First Step: Explosive off the snap, both from a stand up position and when his hand is in the dirt. Johnson is able to get parallel to his matchup more often than not, which when paired with his elite speed, sets Johnson up for success.
Bend: I wouldn’t classify his bend as elite, but because Johnson already has built in leverage (6’1), he can get around the edge naturally.
Hand Usage: I’d like to see Johnson be more physical and use his hands more when in a trench battle. He’s very reliant on his speed, and his hand usage still has room to improve.
Pass Rush Plan: He has a rip move and a swim move, but hasn’t developed much in the way of counter moves. His pass rush plan most snaps however is “be faster than his opponent”, which while that can be effective, it is not something that you can have as a calling card.
Motor/Effort/Physicality: Johnson’s motor never stops running. He’s constantly chasing down ball carriers downfield.
Lateral Mobility: Can cover plenty of ground moving laterally, which he used plenty to defend on read options. He should have elite agility numbers at the combine.
Run Defense/Anchor: He’s likely going to line up in a standup position due to his size limitations (230 pounds). Not much of a factor in the run game. Much of his run defense comes from chasing down ball carriers once they’ve crossed the line of scrimmage.
Athletic Ability: Reported to be Kansas’ best athlete over the summer, running the fastest 40-yard dash on the team and may even crack the 4.4 mark.
Strength: He’s a speed rusher through and through but he needs to work on converting that speed to power in his pass rush.
Versatility: At 6’1 230, he’ll only be a fit in systems that utilize stand up rushers. He’s too light to be used as a down lineman.
Summary: A team will absolutely love Johnson’s athleticism. The question comes with how low his floor could be if his development stalls, especially given that he’s coming into the league as an older prospect. He reminds me of Ogbonnia Okoronkwo coming out of Oklahoma a few years ago.
Filed By: Mike Hrynyshyn, Big 12 Area Scout
Twitter: @MikeH_Draft
