Takeaway-first corner whose 2025 at Tulane — four interceptions and nine passes defensed against just 42 tackles — was efficient playmaking rather than stat compiling. Johnson, 'Joker' to teammates, rated as the portal's No. 6 corner in the cycle, and SI already places him among Arkansas' top 2027 draft-stock names; corners who consistently finish plays on the ball are the ones who survive the G5-to-SEC jump, and the ball skills are the entire appeal here. However, this is functionally a one-year resume — four career tackles before 2025 — built against American Conference receivers, and at 6-0, 195 he will get tested by bigger SEC perimeter targets every single week. The intel triangulates as promising but unproven at the level that matters. Fringe grade until the takeaways show up against the schedule that counts; one good SEC October moves him into the draftable tiers, and the ceiling band leaves room for exactly that.

• Sports Illustrated Jul 20, 2026

  Arkansas Football's Most Important Players for 2026: No. 5, Jahiem Johnson - Sports Illustrated