Scarlet Nation has learned from sources that current Purdue defensive backs coach Taver Johnson has emerged as a legitimate candidate for one of the vacant assistant coaching positions at Rutgers. Johnson coached the secondary at Arkansas with RU head coach Chris Ash during the 2013 season. Johnson was also the only Arkansas staff member to remain when the new staff was put in place by then newly-hired head coach Bret Bielema. Johnson spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons at Arkansas and during the spring of 2012, he was named interim head coach until the hiring of John L. Smith. In those two seasons, he coached the linebackers and the secondary.
Johnson moved on after that 2013 season to Purdue, where he has been the defensive backs coach for the last two seasons. Johnson has previous ties to current Purdue head coach Darrell Hazell as the two spent five years together as part of the Ohio State staff from 2007-11. While at Ohio State, Johnson served as the cornerbacks coach.
Prior to his stint at Ohio State, Johnson spent two seasons at Miami (Ohio) where he worked as the defensive coordinator. He also notched a year of experience in the NFL as the Cleveland Browns special teams coordinator in 2004. While Johnson does have brief experience as a defensive coordinator, he would could step in as the secondary coach at Rutgers if he was officially brought on board. However, he is familiar with Ash's defense so stepping in as RU's new defensive coordinator would not be out of the question. Johnson is a 1994 graduate of Division 3 Wittenberg University, located in Springfield, Ohio.
Johnson moved on after that 2013 season to Purdue, where he has been the defensive backs coach for the last two seasons. Johnson has previous ties to current Purdue head coach Darrell Hazell as the two spent five years together as part of the Ohio State staff from 2007-11. While at Ohio State, Johnson served as the cornerbacks coach.
Prior to his stint at Ohio State, Johnson spent two seasons at Miami (Ohio) where he worked as the defensive coordinator. He also notched a year of experience in the NFL as the Cleveland Browns special teams coordinator in 2004. While Johnson does have brief experience as a defensive coordinator, he would could step in as the secondary coach at Rutgers if he was officially brought on board. However, he is familiar with Ash's defense so stepping in as RU's new defensive coordinator would not be out of the question. Johnson is a 1994 graduate of Division 3 Wittenberg University, located in Springfield, Ohio.
