Earlier in the week, former Ohio State Buckeyes offensive line coach Justin Frye revealed a recent discussion with former Buckeyes player Paris Johnson Jr.
Frye left the Buckeyes program after winning the National Championship earlier this year to join the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals as their offensive line coach. While at his introductory press conference, Frye discussed what it meant to be reunited with Johnson, this time at the NFL level.
What Did Justin Frye Say About Paris Johnson Jr.?
Frye outlined how both men were excited to continue their respective football journeys on the same team and how their conversation was filled with both excitement and emotion. The press conference in full was uploaded to the Cardinals’ official YouTube page.
“He was ecstatic. I was in the airport flying back and a little bit of tears, a little bit of excitement. Just, you know, having a good relationship with him before and then knowing we get a chance to get back and work together and improve and grow together. So, he was excited,” Frye detailed.
Frye was with the Buckeyes between 2022 and 2024, while Johnson was with the Ohio State program between 2020 and 2022.
Johnson had a stellar college football career, something that resulted in him being drafted No. 6 overall by the Cardinals in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Paris Johnson Jr.’s 2025 Outlook
Johnson expects to remain a key member of the Cardinals offensive line next year. This past year, he played in 14 games for the Cardinals, playing almost every snap in the contests in which he was active.
In the same press conference, Frye outlined what he expected to see out of Johnson in his third season in the NFL.
“I think the growth for him, like I said, from year one to two of being a left tackle and then going into next year, he’s going to be very self-sufficient and continue to grow and expand his game himself,” Frye added.
safe to say new OL Coach Frye is a Paris fan @OhioStateFB | @ParisJohnsonJr pic.twitter.com/FgXB6zz0Bs
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) February 21, 2025
The Cardinals have a dominant offensive unit that is hopeful to improve off an up-and-down campaign this past year.
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With a star in quarterback Kyler Murray, as well as elite talent on the outside in tight end Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr., there is an expectation that next year will be a step forward for the Arizona franchise. As is evident, Frye believes that Johnson can be a big part of the success of the next campaign.
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