By Andrew DiCecco, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 
PHILADELPHIA — The National Football League is an exclusive fraternity, reserved for the select few who make the most of the opportunities presented to them.
The 2016 NFL Draft was one such opportunity for University of Texas wide receiver Marcus Johnson, but, as the draft came to a close, the 6-foot-1, 204-pound speedster was without a team, and thrust into a vast pool of undrafted free agents. It was a disappointing result for the then-21-year old Johnson, but not a conclusion — just another opportunity to prove he belonged.
After a college career in which he amassed 61 catches for 793 yards and four touchdowns, and a blazing 4.38 40-time at his Texas Pro Day, Johnson began fielding calls from various teams looking to sign him as a priority free agent. After weighing his options, the man who longtime NFL executive Gil Brandt identified as one of his "2016 NFL Draft sleepers" was headed to Philadelphia.
"I felt the opportunity," Johnson said. "At the time, Coach [Greg Lewis] — our receivers coach at the time — really sold me on the organization. He said one thing I can give you my word on is that your opportunity will be based on your performance. Also, it was Coach Pederson's first year with the organization, so it was a new coaching staff. I really felt like it was a fresh start to show who I was as a player."
With a rare combination of size and speed, Johnson created plenty of intrigue among Eagles fans last season.
He got off to an impressive start in training camp, displaying sure hands, making acrobatic catches, and frequently finding himself on the receiving end of passes thrown by rookie sensation, Carson Wentz. Johnson's progress would soon come to an abrupt halt, however, as he injured his quad just five days into camp, missing valuable time and limiting him to just three preseason games. Johnson just missed making the final 53-man roster, but was promptly signed to the practice squad — then released — then signed again. No stranger to adversity, Johnson again made the most of a missed opportunity by creating another.
"In the last preseason game, being able to go out there and have a couple catches, and play well on special teams, I made the practice squad," he said. "Unfortunately, we needed a quarterback after Sam [Bradford] moved onto the Vikings. I understood the decision [to release me]."
"I was kind of the first man up, being that I had the injury — and I didn't take it personal," Johnson said. "I was removed for about two months, but I never questioned what God had planned for me. I continued to stay prepared and they brought me back at the end of November, and I continued to grow and build from that period of time."
The fact that the Eagles made retaining Johnson such a priority, despite limited practice time, speaks volumes of how the team views him as a potential piece for the future. The Eagles signed him to a reserve/future contract on Jan. 2, 2017, and have high hopes for Johnson to take a big leap in his sophomore season.
"I've been doing circuit training and position specific workouts with my cousin Terry at The League: Elite Training Facility," Johnson said about his offseason program in Houston, "and I was really honing in my routes and my footwork with D (Delfonte Diamond) at Pro Fit."
In addition to the rigorous training in preparation for his second training camp, Johnson also received an invitation from Wentz to work out in Fargo, North Dakota with him and some of his fellow receivers.
"It was good bonding time, and an opportunity for us to see the roots of where Carson is from," Johnson said. "[Wentz] had a lot of things set up for us, so it wasn't strictly just going out there and working out. I'm born and raised in Texas, so it had a southern feel to it, so that was pretty cool."
Familiarity will be key for Johnson. While new receivers Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith are trying to form a connection with Wentz, Johnson has an advantage, having spent a lot of valuable time working with the new face of the franchise last summer, when the would-be starter was still working with the third unit. Johnson said he feels like his chemistry with Wentz is "in a good place."
"It's something that constantly needs to be built on," he said.
Every little bit helps, and Johnson's comfort with Wentz might make the difference in a suddenly crowded receiver core. Aside from free agent acquisitions Jeffery and Smith, the Birds also drafted Mack Hollins from UNC and Shelton Gibson from West Virginia in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively. The Eagles also return with Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, Bryce Treggs, Paul Turner, and David Watford, in addition to Johnson.
Competition at the position is as high as it's been in years, and with the Eagles likely only keeping five or six receivers on the opening day roster, Johnson knows what he has to continue to do to set himself apart in order to earn one of the coveted spots.
"At this point in my career, [my strengths are] being able to look at myself and be creative in the approach of my weaknesses, understand what I need to continually work on, and my work ethic," he said. "After practice, if I feel like something wasn't right, I'm handling it that day. I'm going to go on the tennis ball machine, I'm going to go to the JUGS machine, if I feel I'm a little winded I'll do some extra striding at the end of practice."
"I'm just constantly thinking, constantly trying to be creative in my approach to the game, and looking for different ways to separate myself."
A strong work ethic certainly seems like the mantra of new wide receivers coach Mike Groh. Known for his intensity and innate ability to get the most out of his players, Groh looks to take a receiving corp that underwhelmed a year ago, and make them among the league's best. Groh's resume and track record is as impressive as it is extensive. With the Rams a season ago, he worked with Kenny Britt, and the veteran turned in the first 1,000 yard season of his eight-year career. Other notable protégés include Amari Cooper, Brandon Marshall, and current Eagle, Jeffery.
"When you have a coach like Groh, who comes in with the competitive spirit that he has, it elevates everyone's game," Johnson said. "Everything he says, you listen to it, take it for what it is, and just continue to build. Whether it's positive or negative, he's going to help make you be the best player you can be."
#Eagles got an extended look at Marcus Johnson during OTAs with Jordan Matthews (knee) sidelined. Johnson took advantage of extra reps.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) June 30, 2017
It will be an interesting storyline this preseason to see what Groh can do with the second-year receiver's talents. Johnson's hard work has paid dividends in the past, and has continued to, as he made the most of his first-team reps during OTAs in June. Johnson put in the work this offseason and is primed to take the leap to playing on Sundays.
