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GENERAL REPORT: GRADE: 5.78
Body Structure: Johnson has just adequate height, but displays a thick, compact frame with muscular arms, tight waist and hips, thick thighs, solid calves and carries his weight well.
Athletic Ability: Johnson lacks ideal foot speed, though he shows a decent burst getting into the line. He appears to run with stiff hips and shows upper torso tightness, making him a bit of a liability outside of dump-offs as a route runner out of the backfield. He has natural strength, but failed to display good weight room numbers at the NFL Combine. He shows good balance running north-south, but will get a bit top heavy when having to change direction. GRADE: 5.3
Football Sense: Johnson is hot and cold when it comes to locating targets in a crowd. He is not really much of a detailed type, as he loves to hit and does it well, except for when he drops his hands too early, which lets defenders push him out of the rush lane. He plays with better awareness charging up the middle of the field, where he knows how to lower his pads and charge through the opponent with tremendous force to impact. The coaches say he has no problems learning football, but that you need to show him what you want. GRADE: 5.4
Character: Johnson has good quality in his character with no off-field issues. He was a bit reluctant to move to fullback, but embraced it quickly, as he does play with a team-first attitude. He has a quiet personality, along with a very good attitude. GRADE: 6.5
Competitiveness: Johnson plays with good toughness and aggression. He works hard to finish as a blocker and will not hesitate to mix it up in the trenches. GRADE: 6.0
Work Habits: Johnson is a good program type who is a team player and very coachable. He is a good self-starter in the training room and one who will put in the extra hours after practice to improve his technique on the field. GRADE: 5.7
ATHLETIC REPORT. GRADE: 5.33
Initial Quickness: Johnson has good short-area suddenness into the hole to gain advantage, but his feet will tend to die when having to travel long distances. He comes out of his stance with good urgency and a low pad level, looking like a heat-seeking missile ready to destroy any defender in his path. He can easily root out a defender at the line of scrimmage, but lacks cutting ability (just a straight-line runner). GRADE: 5.4
Acceleration/Burst: Outside of getting into the line out of his stance with good timing, Johnson lacks the foot speed to accelerate into the second level. He will never be one to pull away from secondary types and struggles to adjust to moving targets. GRADE: 4.9
Instincts/Balance: Johnson has good balance through the hole and keeps his feet churning to widen and sustain the rush lane. He does a nice job of ping-ponging defenders out of his way, but must be more consistent using his hands. He does have problems locating targets when on the move. GRADE: 5.5
Inside Running: Johnson lacks instincts and vision as a runner, as you don't see enough acceleration to get past the line of scrimmage. He just seems to be hesitant in finding the seam. He does not have the loose hips to change direction and while he is a bruiser of a blocker, you don't see the same aggression with the ball in his hands. GRADE: 4.5
Outside Running: Johnson appears to lack the vision and speed to get to the corner on outside runs. He is a load to bring down, but can be caught from behind due to a lack of timed speed. GRADE: 4.5
Elusiveness: Johnson has very good straight-line ability and power, but will not be one who can elude into the second level, mostly because of his inexperience as a runner and a lack of burst or second gear. He also fails to redirect quickly, as his tight hips make him look sluggish when changing direction. GRADE: 4.8
Tackle-Breaking Strength: Johnson has the lower body power to break tackles. You don't see a lot of body torque or explosion, but he attacks the line with brute force and can get movement coming off the snap. He does a nice job of squaring his shoulders, but once he learns how to utilize his hands better, he would be even more effective widening the rush lanes. GRADE: 6.5
Tendency to Fumble: Johnson fumbled once on 16 carries and it led to an opposition touchdown (2008 Mississippi State game). He does not have natural hands, whether as a receiver or ball carrier and while he has very good strength in his hands and forearms, he will run carelessly with the ball. GRADE: 4.8
Receiving Skills: Johnson is not light on his feet getting out into the flats. He does not show even a functional burst or acceleration and seems to fight the ball too much, letting it into his body rather than extending to catch away from his frame. GRADE: 4.7
Route Running : Johnson has too much body torso stiffness to adjust to off-target throws. He shows marginal hip flexibility and doesn't appear to see the ball well, as he looks surprised when the ball gets close to his frame. When used on middle screens, flat or wheel routes, it could become an adventure. GRADE: 4.7
Blocking Ability: This is what Johnson does best. He is a physical finisher blocking in-line and flashes good force and explosion behind his hits in closed quarters. He uses his hands well to mirror in pass protection, but is lacking in foot speed to get out and cut block. He has a very strong base power, despite poor numbers in the weight room at the NFL Combine. One thing that he does well is root out defenders, lowering his shoulders to put all of his force behind his hits. He also displays solid kick-out technique. GRADE: 8.3
Compares To: LOUSAKA POLITE, Miami -- Like Polite, Johnson is a punishing inside lead blocker who loves to hit. He lacks any sort of running or receiving skills, which will limit how a team will use him, as most now regard the classic fullback as an endangered species. With his marginal speed and tight hips, he can't be used as an H-Back or in the slot with much success. However, if you need someone to consistently clear the rush lanes, he is the best doing that coming out of college.
OVERALL GRADE: 5.41
--Report by Dave-Te' Thomas
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