​Our next feature highlights running back Amar Johnson, a dynamic talent for the Chargers. Standing at 5’9” and weighing 205 pounds, Johnson hails from Missouri, where he starred at Chaminade College Prep in Creve Coeur. He earned two consecutive First-Team All-State selections and posted back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons as a junior and senior, while also earning All-League honors as a kick returner. Despite such a prolific high school career, he carried a modest two-star rating from 247Sports and chose to take his talents to South Dakota State, bypassing Indiana State, Memphis, and Miami (Ohio).
As a true freshman for the Jackrabbits, Johnson contributed in a backup role, totaling 86 carries for 439 yards and three touchdowns across all 13 games. In his sophomore year, he appeared in eight games as a reserve, runner-up to the feature backs with 414 yards and three scores on 63 attempts. The 2023 season saw him break out in a big way, playing in a career-high 15 games and piling up a personal best 801 rushing yards along with four rushing touchdowns. He closed out his college career with 15 more appearances, racking up 1,222 yards and 14 touchdowns to cap a 52-game tenure with the Jackrabbits. His outstanding all-purpose production earned him First-Team All-MVC honors.
Johnson went undrafted in 2025 but signed with the Green Bay Packers as a UDFA. During the preseason, he flashed his speed, leading the team with 67 rushing yards in his first game and scoring the lone rushing touchdown. He added another ground score the following week, finishing the preseason with 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, along with 21 receiving yards on two receptions. However, he was waived during final cuts in late August and subsequently joined the Chargers’ practice squad on September 2. He spent the season there before signing a reserve/futures contract with Los Angeles.
Physically, Johnson is a straight-line speedster who can win to the edge and outrun slower angles. His 4.39-second 40-yard dash, recorded during the pre-draft process, is among the fastest marks for Chargers running backs and would place him second only to Keaton Mitchell in terms of top-end speed on the roster. In the 2025 preseason, his two-touchdown performance and 100-plus rushing yards highlighted his home-run potential, including a 39-yard score that showcased his burst.
One area Johnson will need to develop to maximize his NFL value is his receiving production. In SDSU’s offense, he was not heavily used as a pass catcher, finishing with only 50 receptions for 449 yards and a single touchdown over 52 collegiate games. As NFL offenses increasingly favor versatile backs who can contribute as receivers, Johnson will need to prove he can reliably catch the ball out of the backfield and contribute on third downs.
With the Chargers under Mike McDaniel’s leadership, Johnson’s fit on the roster looks more promising than ever. He profiles as a developmental back who can grow into a larger role behind the starter and serve as a valuable understudy to a veteran or a future starter. Expect him to spend the season continuing to develop on the practice squad, while showcasing his speed and home-run ability in practice and limited game action. If he can polish his receiving skills and demonstrate reliable hands, Johnson has a realistic path to sticking on the 53-man roster and contributing as a specialty spark player, with the potential to evolve into a more complete back as he continues to grow within the Chargers’ system.