The Houston Cougars are off to their best start since 2021, clinching bowl eligibility Saturday after a walk-off 31-28 victory over Arizona. However, Houston will be without one of its starting wide receivers for the remainder of this promising season.
Stephon “Boogie” Johnson Jr. confirmed on Instagram that he would miss the remainder of the 2025 season with a foot injury.
“My season may be over but I know God got me and The marathon continues. I’ll be back I promise I’m coming back harder than ever.
#seeyallnextyear❤️”
Johnson missed his first game of the season Saturday, sidelined due to a right foot injury. Johnson was on the sidelines supporting teammates wearing his No. 5 jersey, sweatpants, a Houston bucket hat, and a walking boot on his right foot. Postgame, he was at the center of the celebration after Ethan Sanchez sunk a 41-yard field goal to defeat Arizona, mimicking a bowling release to recognize his first bowl eligible season in three years at Houston.
Johnson currently ranks fourth on the roster in receptions (13) and third in receiving yards (275), checking in at second among Houston’s wide receivers in both categories. The fourth-year senior also secured two touchdowns through six outings. Johnson led Houston with 32 receptions and 402 receiving yards in 2024 but commanded a different role this year as the Cougars’ premier deep threat on the boundary. Four of his 13 receptions traveled over 25 yards, notably capturing 74 and 54-yard deep shots down the sideline from Conner Weigman — his former youth 7-on-7 teammate whom he played a role in recruiting to Houston. Johnson’s downfield playmaking has been instrumental since the day he walked on campus, famously securing a 49-yard walk-off Hail Mary touchdown to defeat West Virginia in 2023.
Without Johnson’s presence, Houston must showcase more receiver depth as the year progresses. Weigman completed 15 passes in Saturday’s win over Arizona, but only six landed in the gloves of wide receivers — four to Amare Thomas, one to Harvey Broussard III, and one to Koby Young. Excluding Johnson, Thomas (27) is the only Houston wide receiver with more than six receptions in 2025. Mekhi Mews has six, Broussard has four (three in the past two weeks), Young has two, and Jaquise Martin has one.
Johnson was never redshirted during his true freshman 2022 campaign at Oklahoma State. The receiver played 10+ games in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and thus, 2025 was slated to be Johnson’s final year of eligibility, but his Instagram caption stating “see y’all next year” suggests a medical hardship waiver may be applied for in the near future.
Houston prepares for its second game without Johnson on Saturday, Oct. 25 at No. 24 Arizona State.
