Draft Profile: Antonio Johnson, S, TAMU

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The 2023 NFL offseason is nearly here and that means it’s time for mock drafts, draft profiles and everything that goes with them. So without further ado, here’s one of many Draft Profiles for the 2023 NFL draft.

Antonio Johnson, S, TAMU

HT: 6’3
WT: 195 lbs

Accolades:

– First-team All-SEC (2022)
– Second-team All-SEC (2021)
– USA Today HS All-American (2019)

Video:

Pros:

– Has the change-of-direction ability to mirror underneath but did solid work out of the press and off coverage.
– Has excellent ball skills, tracking the ball effectively and instinctively taking the right route to break up the play. Johnson has the strong hands and coordination to come down with interceptions.
– Very smart player who is a student of the game. Knows what to look for in coverage and could be a coach on the field
– Can play in the box (more than 25% of his snaps) and is a tough reliable tackler who knows how to wrap up
– Tracks the ball well downfield and has the innate feel for high-point passes. He’s willing to come up and fill against the run and seems to take pride in delivering violent hits in run support.
– Exceptionally quick for his size (6-3), with the feet and fluidity to mirror underneath, including in the slot against the two-way go. Johnson stays low in his backpedal and explodes toward the ball, with an outstanding closing burst.
– He’s a willing and capable hitter in run support and closes fast to make plays against quick screens.
– Can track the ball downfield and gets his head around when playing in a trail position, and Johnson shows excellent ball skills when breaking on a route. He’s a plus tackler in run support as well.
– Quicker than he is fast but has a burst to close in zone coverage and plays physical at the line in man.

Cons:

– Despite his size, he’s not an overly physical tackler. Johnson will have to add some weight at the next level in order to become more physical.
– Has only average long speed and body flexibility and plays a bit high – he also isn’t as smooth in space, especially in the deep zone
– Isn’t great in route recognition when he’s facing the action, is hesitant and susceptible to double moves, and too often gets unnecessarily handsy when playing trail position
– Will need help if forced to cover wide receivers deep – where his deep coverage abilities are a little suspect

Summary:

Antonio Johnson is a quality pro prospect who has excellent overall athletic ability, good speed, and tackles like a linebacker. He’ll need to put on some weight especially if he’ll be playing his best position of strong safety where he may flourish in a hybrid safety linebacker role. Expect Johnson to be taken in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Information in this article first appeared on NFL Draft Buzz and is used with permission. Find the latest coverage, analysis, and player rankings for the 2023 NFL Draft at nfldraftbuzz.com

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