Monday, January 30, 2023

2023 NFL Draft Prospect S Antonio Johnson

S Antonio Johnson:

Scouting Reports:










Articles:

Pete Prisco's 2023 NFL Draft Better-Than Team (Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M - At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Johnson has good size for the position. He needs it the way he throws his body around. He is a physical player who is really good near the line of scrimmage. He is an aggressive tackler who has a nose for the football. He packs a punch when he tackles. As far as coverage, his aggressive approach can get him in trouble. There is a play against Auburn where he gets sucked up in the run game on a play-action pass that would have been a long TD if not for the pass being under-thrown. It ended up being a pass-interference penalty on Johnson as he scrambled to make the play. Those are the things in his game that need cleaning up, but he has the tools to be a starting safety who will pack a heck of a punch for the secondary.) (4-27-28):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/better-than-team-for-2023-nfl-draft-here-are-the-prospects-pete-prisco-likes-more-than-scouts-do/

2023 NFL Draft safety rankings, scouting reports: Brian Branch the clear standout (2. Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M, 6-2, 198, Junior - Overview: Johnson signed with Texas A&M as a celebrated four-star recruit out of St. Louis, initially committing to Tennessee before flipping to the Aggies, for whom he logged action in seven games as a true freshman, even starting once, and recording 14 tackles overall. Johnson emerged as a fulltime starter and enforcer as a sophomore, finishing second on the team in total tackles (79) and tied for third with 8.5 of them for loss. Despite missing three games in 2022 due to undisclosed injuries, Johnson posted similar numbers in 2022, leading the Aggies in tackles per game (7.9). Despite never earning all-conference honors during his career, Johnson opted to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the 2023 draft.  Strengths: Johnson has above-average size for the position, with the frame to add more mass without a significant loss of quickness. He checks boxes with his comfort in the box, attacking lanes in run support with the ferocity of a linebacker. He's a physical hitter with a knack for producing forced fumbles (three in 2022). Has some wrinkles to iron out in coverage, but possesses the speed and agility to handle this role and enters the NFL with experience deep and covering the slot. He's a regular on special teams and plays with the intensity to continue in this role.  Concerns: Johnson is currently more impressive in run support than in coverage, showing just average awareness of the ball in flight. Recorded just one pass breakup in 2022 (and eight over his career, including just one interception), showing a frustrating focus on the man, rather than the ball. He can get a little over-zealous with his pursuit angles and needs to do a better job of settling and wrapping securely.  Bottom Line: Johnson looks and plays the role of a classic "box" safety well. Like most big safeties, he will always struggle a bit with the quick-twitch slot receivers of the world, but Johnson can handle tight ends and backs in coverage and can immediately improve a team's grit and physicality in run support and on special teams.  Grade: Second-to-third round) (4-25-23):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2023-nfl-draft-safety-rankings-scouting-reports-brian-branch-the-clear-standout

NFL draft CB preview: 2 could go top 10 for fourth straight year (Antonio Johnson is a bigger, rangier safety who has slot abilities.) (4-23-23):  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2023/04/23/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-cornerbacks-2023-rankings-devon-witherspoon/70143298007/

2023 NFL Draft preview: 5 safeties that could interest the Lions (2. Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M:  6-2, 198. 4.52 40.  A three-year player, 28 games played. Had 164 career tackles with 97 solos, eight passes defended and 14 tackles for loss.  Bottom line: At 6-2, used his range to make 14 career tackles for loss.) (4-20-23):  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2023-nfl-draft-preview-5-safeties-lions-branch-johnson-smith

Top 10 Safeties in the 2023 NFL Draft: Brian Branch Emerging as the Top Prospect (2. Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M:  There’s still more projection involved in Antonio Johnson‘s evaluation than preferred, but there’s reason to believe the Texas A&M defender can be a much better pro than a college player. That’s not to say he was bad, either. Johnson was exceptional in 2021 and flashed more promise in 2022 — but the best is still to come.  Johnson can, at times, still be up and down in coverage, but he has the high-end length and explosiveness at 6’2″, 198 pounds to blanket receivers out of the slot. In the box, his range, physicality, and disruptive mindset can be nightmare-inducing for opponents, as he showed down the stretch in 2022.) (4-17-23):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/top-10-s-in-the-2023-nfl-draft-jl-skinner-starts-the-season-as-the-superior-safety-prospect/

2023 NFL Draft: One riser, one faller at each position according to PFF's Mock Draft Simulator (Fallers - S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&m (PFF Big Board Rank: 64):  As the 2022 college football season wore on, it seemed certain Johnson would be a first-round pick. A poor combine sent him plummeting, though — including just eight bench reps and a 9-foot-10 broad jump.  Johnson was going around the No. 32 pick in mid-February but now finds himself as a late second-rounder as of early April, per PFF's Mock Draft Simulator.) (4-14-23):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-nfl-draft-risers-fallers-each-position-mock-draft-simulator

2023 NFL Draft: Trevor Sikkema's top 5 players at each defensive position (2. Antonio Johnson:  Behind Branch, we have Antonio Johnson, whose 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame makes him a chess-piece type of defender when playing in the slot against bigger receivers and tight ends.) (4-13-23):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-top-five-players-defense-2023-nfl-draft-sikkema

2023 NFL Draft: The top 9 safeties (3. Antonio Johnson Jr., Texas A&M (Height: 6′ 2″ (86th percentile) Weight: 198 (18th), 40-Yard Dash: 4.52 (64th), 10-Yard Split: 1.57 (55th), Bench Press: 8 reps (1st), Vertical Jump: 31″ (5th), Broad Jump: 118″ (32nd), 3-Cone Drill: N/A, Arm Length: 32⅛” (68th), Hand Size: 9¾” (80th)) - Bio: A four-star recruit from East St. Louis, Illinois, Johnson hit the ground running for the Aggies, starting in Texas A&M’s Orange Bowl win over North Carolina as a true freshman. Over three seasons, he had two sacks, 14 pressures, 125 tackles, 60 stops, and 75 catches allowed on 106 targets for 506 yards, 366 yards after the catch, four touchdowns, one interception, one pass breakup, and an opponent passer rating of 89.6. Johnson played 262 snaps in the box, 123 at free safety, 1,029 in the slot, 33 at cornerback, and 92 along the defensive line.  Stat to Know: In 2022, Johnson had five tackles for loss in the slot, in the box, and as an edge blitzer.  Strengths: Johnson can use his size and aggressive nature to make life tough for quarterbacks as a pressure defender. Auburn’s left tackle really didn’t appreciate getting embarrassed by a 6-foot-2, 198-pound safety on this sack, but that’s what happened.  And as he showed against LSU, Johnson will not hesitate to get grimy when a running back is coming straight at him, whether Johnson is in the box or playing deep to start.  Johnson is comfortable enough as a deep safety despite his non-existent interception and pass breakup numbers in 2022; on this play against Auburn, he probably would have had a pick were it not for an over-eager teammate.  Weaknesses: Johnson’s height shows up as a negative when he’s asked to cover smaller, quicker receivers underneath — it’s common among defenders with longer moving parts, but it does dot his game tape. Any kind of comeback can be a problem from the slot.  Johnson can also struggle to catch up in off-coverage at times; if you’re putting him in the slot, you probably want him pressing and disrupting the receiver more often than not. Otherwise, that extra millisecond it takes him to get everything moving in the same direction will lead to some easy completions.  Conclusion: Teams want big aggressors at the safety positions, especially when you get closer to the line of scrimmage, and Johnson should be able to walk into his NFL facility from Day 1 with that palette ready to go. He was an underrated and under-utilized deep defender who could be built up in that role, and he’ll be one of your best blitzers from the start.  NFL Comparison: Kyle Dugger. Selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Lenoir-Rhyne, Dugger is a bigger (6-foot-2, 220) defender who excels everywhere from boxbacker to press slot defender to the deep third at times. Like Johnson, Dugger is at his best when he can set the tone against receivers as opposed to letting them get him out of phase with certain route concepts, and he’s become one of the most valuable cogs in New England’s defense. Johnson could be that kind of player with a few technique fixes, and maybe a couple of protein shakes.) (3-30-23):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/2023-nfl-draft-top-11-safeties-brian-branch-sydney-brown-jl-skinner/

What Are Antonio Johnson’s 4 Best NFL Team Fits? (3-28-23):  https://thedraftnetwork.com/antonio-johnson-nfl-draft-bengals-cowboys-raiders-packers/

Biggest boom-or-bust prospect at every position in the 2023 NFL Draft (S: ANTONIO JOHNSON JR., TEXAS A&M - Johnson is listed as a safety, but in actuality, he was almost exclusively a slot in college. In three seasons with the Aggies, Johnson played all of two games as a traditional safety. It’s just worrisome how he’ll fare if asked to play a more versatile role when most of his high-end plays are around the line of scrimmage.) (3-28-23):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-biggest-boom-or-bust-prospect-every-position-2023-nfl-draft

2023 NFL Draft: Every top-10 safety's highest-graded season (ANTONIO JOHNSON, TEXAS A&M (Big board rank: 47/S2, Best PFF grade: 87.4 - 2021, 2021 Coverage grade: 88.7, 2021 Run-defense grade: 89.5, 2021 Pass-rush grade: 71.1)) (3-10-23):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-nfl-draft-every-top-10-safetys-highest-graded-season

Best safeties available in the 2023 NFL Draft and free agency (2. Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M (47):  A fringe first-round prospect prior to the combine, Antonio Johnson saw his stock fall after an overall poor performance at the combine. His 40-yard dash (60th percentile) and 10-yard split (63rd percentile) were good, but his strength and explosive workouts were best left a mystery. He posted just eight bench reps (5th percentile) and a 31-inch vertical jump (7th percentile). Despite that, he shows good burst on tape and makes plays at the line of scrimmage.) (3-9-23):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-best-safeties-2023-nfl-draft-2023-free-agency

Lions' 2023 Draft Crushes (Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M:  Johnson is another physical defender who packs a punch from the safety position. He showed a knack for coming down and making a hit in the run game, proving that he can handle the box safety role that Detroit values highly.  The Lions have valued players similar in makeup to Johnson before, such as Will Harris (who bring versatility). Harris is set to be a free agent, so a player like Johnson could step in and fill the role seamlessly.) (3-7-23):  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-2023-draft-crushes

NFL scouting combine winners and losers by the numbers: Defense (Loser: The Safety Class - For the most part, it wasn’t a great day for the top safety prospects at the combine. Texas A&M’s Antonio Johnson likely lost some money after an average performance. He only threw up eight reps on the bench press — first percentile for safeties. His 31-inch vertical and 9-foot-10 broad jump were both below average as well.) (3-7-23):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-nfl-scouting-combine-winners-losers-defense

NFL Combine takeaways by position: Anthony Richardson's speed, Bryce Young's size & more we learned about 2023 draft (Safeties: Texas A&M's Antonio Johnson winning a real 'Bama battle - The Alabama duo of Brian Branch, a slot hybrid, and Jordan Battle, with great quickness, are the two best cover safeties in the draft. But Johnson is the most well-rounded traditional safety in the class and showed it by moving around his 6-2, 198-pound frame with smoothness in all the positional drills. He still is a borderline first-rounder depending on team needs.) (3-6-23):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2023-takeaways-anthony-richardson-bryce-young/ptpjkejssvw6s1dt6ghwfag0

NFL Combine: Texas A&M S Antonio Johnson Q&A (3-5-23):  https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-combine-texas-a-m-s-antonio-johnson-q-a


NFL Combine results: 7 standouts from the safeties group (Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M (6-foot-2, 198, 4.52) is big and long, and his frame made a lot of the drills look easy. He was a smooth glider across the field and he swallowed up the ball when it got in his range. He did struggle with some of the quicker agility drills, but that’s not really his game, and was expected to be something that would be challenging.) (3-3-23):  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/3/4/23623427/2023-nfl-combine-results-7-standouts-safeties-draft

Safeties for Lions to Watch at 2023 NFL Scouting Combine (Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M:  Johnson is another physical player, who is behind only Branch at the position. At 6-foot-3, he’s got the necessary size, and matches that with both intelligence and speed.  He’s very athletic, impacting games by finding and making plays on the ball. At Texas A&M, he finished with 79 tackles, eight-and-a-half coming for loss, in his first year as a full-time starter in 2023.  Johnson will be an exciting watch in Indianapolis, as his performance could dictate whether or not he is able to sneak into the latter-half of the first round. It’s a big week for the A&M product.) (3-2-23):  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-2023-combine-preview-safeties

2023 NFL Draft Big Board: Top 25 Prospects Heading Into NFL Combine Include Jalen Carter, Brian Branch, and Bijan Robinson (14. Antonio Johnson, DB, Texas A&M: A 6’3″, 200-pound do-it-all dynamo in the secondary, Antonio Johnson has been a disruptor from multiple alignments for Texas A&M. He’s physical enough to play down in the box, with the size, speed, and length to contest at the catch point in coverage.) (3-1-23):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-draft-big-board-top-25-2023/

NFL Combine preview: 8 safeties the Lions should be watching (Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M, 6-foot-3, 195:  Cut from the same mold as Jeremy Chinn (Panthers) and Kyle Dugger (Patriots), Johnson is a hybrid player who rotates between safety, the slot, and linebacker. Right now, Johnson can be an impactful player against the run but needs some polish on his coverage skills. In Detroit, he would probably live as a slot option who is schemed to stay in the box as much as possible as he develops. Like Chinn and Dugger, he will likely come off the board in Round 2.) (3-1-23):  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/3/1/23615530/2023-nfl-combine-preview-8-safeties-detroit-lions-watch

NFL Draft: Defensive positional rankings pre-combine (2. S Antonio Johnson:  Antonio Johnson's season was not as inspiring as the 2021 campaign, but he has a versatile skill set.) (2-27-23):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-2023-jalen-carter-will-anderson-jr-atop-pre-combine-list-of-best-defensive-prospects-by-position/

2023 Combine preview: Safety (2. Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M, 6-3, 195:  Johnson is a long and rangy athlete with terrific speed and coverage skills. His 26 coverage stops over the last two seasons were the fourth most among Power Five defensive backs, according to Pro Football Focus, and his 91 targets went for only 368 yards (4.0 yards per target).) (2-24-23):  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2023-combine-preview-safety-branch-johnson-brown

2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Safety (2. ANTONIO JOHNSON, TEXAS A&M (BIG BOARD RANK: 32):  Johnson is a playmaker around the line of scrimmage.) (2-22-23):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-nfl-draft-position-rankings-safety

Bucky Brooks' top five 2023 NFL Draft prospects by position 1.0: Stroud, Young, Hooker top QB rankings (2.  Antonio Johnson:  The evolution of the safety position at the NFL level makes this 2023 group an enticing collection of talent. Teams looking for center fielders and nickel corner types will love the group.  Johnson is a polished slot defender with outstanding awareness and instincts. The Texas A&M product is an aggressive hitter with a strong nose for the ball and rock-solid tackling skills.)  (2-16-23):  https://www.nfl.com/news/bucky-brooks-top-five-2023-nfl-draft-prospects-by-position-1-0-stroud-young-hook

A&M's Antonio Johnson is PFF's second highest rated safety in the 2023 NFL Draft (1-7-23):  https://247sports.com/college/texas-am/Article/Texas-AM-football-Antonio-Johnson-2023-NFL-Draft-PFF-202341460/

2023 NFL Draft: Ranking the top 10 safety prospects (2. ANTONIO JOHNSON, TEXAS A&M (JUNIOR | 6-3, 195) (2022 PFF Grade: 81.6, Play Style: Screen-Erasing Slot, Initial Round Projection: 1st):  If you’ve watched Kyle Hamilton in his role this season with the Ravens, that’s a good idea of what we can expect from Johnson at the next level. It’s exactly the role he handled for the Aggies the past two seasons. His 26 coverage stops over that span were the fourth most among Power Five defensive backs, as his 91 targets went for only 368 yards (4.0 yards per target).  His acceleration for a 6-foot-3 safety is what really makes him unique. He can get past a block or knife into the backfield in the blink of an eye. And then his relatively long wingspan for a safety affords him leeway as a tackler. The only worry is that’s just about the only role we’ve ever seen him play. We don’t particularly know how he’ll fare if asked to expand his horizons in the NFL.) (1-6-23):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-nfl-draft-top-10-safety-rankings

Top 10 S in the 2023 NFL Draft: Brian Branch Emerging as the Top Prospect (2. Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M:  There’s still more projection involved in Antonio Johnson‘s evaluation than preferred, but there’s reason to believe the Texas A&M defender can be a much better pro than college player. That’s not to say he was bad, either. Johnson was exceptional in 2021 and flashed more brilliance in 2022 — but the best is still to come.  Johnson can, at times, still be up-and-down in coverage, but he has the high-end length and explosiveness at 6’3″, 200 pounds, to blanket receivers out of the slot. In the box, his range, physicality, and disruptive mindset can be nightmare-inducing for opponents, as he showed down the stretch in 2022.) (12-26-22):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/top-10-s-in-the-2023-nfl-draft-jl-skinner-starts-the-season-as-the-superior-safety-prospect/

2023 NFL Draft Stock - Pre-Bowls II (Down - Antonio Johnson, S/CB, Texas A&M:  Team sources said that through no fault of his own, Johnson's stock is done from where he entered the 2022 season. Johnson was injured and missed a good portion of the season, and when he did play, he was solid but he did not create the splash plays that he produced in 2021. As a result, Johnson is not viewed as a potential high first-rounder like he was a few months ago.) (12-20-22):  https://walterfootball.com/draft2023stock_16.php

2022 PFF College All-SEC Team: Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt, Alabama EDGE Will Anderson Jr. and more (FIRST TEAM - S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M) (11-30-22):  https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2022-pff-all-sec-team-tennessee-jalin-hyatt-alabama-will-anderson-jr

College Football Week 12: PFF Team of the Week and Player Awards (PFF TEAM OF THE WEEK Defense - Flex: Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M Aggies) (11-21-22):  https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-week-12-pff-team-of-the-week-player-awards-2022

Week 9 NFL Draft Prospect Battles To Watch Include Anthony Richardson vs. Christopher Smith (Ole Miss RB Zach Evans, WR Jonathan Mingo vs. Texas A&M S Antonio Johnson:  Antonio Johnson hasn’t quite built on his strong 2021 season in 2022, but the Aggies’ defensive back remains one of the most exciting safety prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s an extremely explosive, elastic athlete at 6’3″, 200 pounds, with range in space and terse physicality coming downhill.  That dual-phase ability will be tested against Ole Miss, as Lane Kiffin’s Rebels have dynamic threats in the run and pass game. Jonathan Mingo is a dynamic downfield athlete with RAC ability and a working release package, while Zach Evans is a long-striding glider who can send safeties lurching with his attack angles.) (10-29-22):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2023-nfl-draft-prospect-battles-to-watch-cfb-week-9-2022/

Top 2023 NFL Draft Prospects: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud Heads a Talented Class (15. Antonio Johnson, CB, Texas A&M:  As Tariq Woolen showcases how devastatingly impactful a tall, long, athletic freak at the cornerback position can be in the NFL, the 2023 NFL draft serves us up Texas A&M’s Antonio Johnson.  He’s a 6’3″, 200-pound juggernaut with impressive closing speed and fluidity of movement, while boasting the length to be impactful at the catch point. Despite a high nickel usage during his Aggies career, Johnson could slide into any position in the secondary at the next level.) (10-27-22):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2023-nfl-draft-prospects/

Detroit Lions 2023 draft watch: Alabama’s Will Anderson (Antonio Johnson, safety, Texas A&M (junior):  A modern-day NFL safety, Johnson has the range to play all over the field. Per PFF, through five games he has taken 105 snaps at free safety, 139 in the slot, 75 in the box (about half of those as a strong safety and half as a sub-package linebacker), and eight at corner.  Lions fit: While he has the range to be a pure starting safety, his ability to contribute as a matchup defensive back is his best trait. He’s the type of defensive back they want Ifeatu Melifonwu to become, but Johnson doesn’t need refining to get there.  An excerpt from CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Josh Edwards’ profile of Johnson:   “Johnson has great size to go along with an excellent athletic skillset. He communicates shifts and has a quick key and trigger to play downhill. The Illinois native fights through blocks and plays a rugged style of football. In an era where NFL teams value versatility, his ability to cover the slot allows NFL teams to disguise coverage pre-snap.”) (10-8-22):  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2022/10/8/23386400/detroit-lions-2023-draft-watch-7-players-to-watch-will-anderson-scouting-profile

SEC Standouts: 6 Players Dominating College Football (Antonio Johnson SAF, Texas A&M:  Every NFL defense needs a guy like the Aggies’ ceiling stalwart. An uber-athletic roof defender that’s not afraid to work near the mess that is the line of scrimmage, his knack for being near the football is a translatable trait to the highest level of the game. An intelligently-aggressive prospect, his elite football intelligence will only improve as he adds more snaps under his belt.) (9-26-22):  https://thedraftnetwork.com/sec-best-players-college-football-2022/

Texas A&M Star Antonio Johnson Earns SEC Honors Following Arkansas Win (9-26-22):  https://www.si.com/college/tamu/news/aggies-sec-player-of-week-antonio-johnson-southwest-classic

Scouting Notebook: Top 2023 NFL Draft prospects at every position and more (S: ANTONIO JOHNSON:  Johnson is still primarily manning the slot in the Aggies' defense. And he’s doing it at a high level. He’s racked up 10 stops through three weeks already. His length and closing speed are going to translate to almost any alignment.) (9-22-22):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-draft-scouting-notebook-top-2023-prospects

Top 2023 NFL Draft Prospects (5. Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M:  A second-team All-SEC pick in 2021, Johnson is a do-everything safety who is poised to jump up draft boards this season. Johnson was responsible for 53 tackles, one sack, one interception and five passes defended in 2021 but his impact on the Aggies' defense was far more important than the numbers. He aligned the defense and is one of the smartest defensive backs in college football.  At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Johnson has an ideal frame. Johnson is excellent in coverage, reading routes and providing support to teammates. He's quick enough to range backwards or forwards towards the play while also being strong enough to provide support in the run game and is an excellent tackler. Perhaps most impressively, he sheds blockers easily while pursuing ball-carriers. That versatility will make him incredibly valuable in the modern NFL.) (9-6-22):  https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/top-nfl-draft-prospects-2023-01gbngztsytg

2023 NFL Draft Stock - Week 1 (Up - Antonio Johnson, S/CB, Texas A&M:  Sources from multiple NFL teams feel Johnson is a special player and could end up being one of the top prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft.  "[Johnson] has big-time potential," said a NFC director of player personnel. "He is an anomaly like Kyle Hamilton, and the question is where do you play [Johnson]. He lined up in the slot, played well as a dime linebacker, was excellent as a safety, and you saw him cover Jameson Williams in man-to-man. He could be an outside corner, but he would be elite at safety. [Johnson] might be similar to Derwin James, but not as physical."  Johnson a broke out season for the Aggies in 2021, recording 79 tackles, an interception, five passes defended and one sack. Team evaluators feel he played even better than the stats indicate. "[Johnson] is outstanding in all aspects," texted an area scout. Johnson could end up being one of the top defensive prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft.) (9-6-22):  https://walterfootball.com/draft2023stock_01.php

2023 NFL Draft: Alabama's Bryce Young, Kentucky's Will Levis headline top-10 SEC prospects (7. Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M:  Johnson has great size to go along with an excellent athletic skillset. He communicates shifts and has a quick key and trigger to play downhill. The Illinois native fights through blocks and plays a rugged style of football. Although early days, Johnson has established himself as the top safety prospect in the class.) (8-25-22):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2023-nfl-draft-alabamas-bryce-young-kentuckys-will-levis-headline-top-10-sec-prospects/

NFL Hot Press: Antonio Johnson Creating Buzz (8-17-22):  https://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Antonio-Johnson-Creating-Big-Buzz

Top Texas A&M Prospects to Watch in 2023 NFL Draft (S Antonio Johnson:  After playing nickel all of last season, Johnson will move to traditional safety. The first thing that stands out on Johnson’s film is his size and length. Johnson possesses fluidity for his size, but isn’t special in the speed department. Even with that weakness, his size, length and physicality should allow him to be an excellent box safety, with the ability to cover tight ends at the next level. It is a big year for Johnson to show that he has the range and instincts at safety, but his tape was very good as a big slot. Johnson currently appears to be a Day 2 prospect.) (8-4-22):  https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft/top-aggies-prospects-to-watch-2023-nfl-draft

2022 PFF College Preseason All-America Team: Bryce Young, Bijan Robinson and Will Anderson earn first-team spots (FIRST-TEAM Defense - S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M) (8-1-22):  https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2022-pff-preseason-all-america-team-bryce-young-bijan-robinson-and-will-anderson-earn-first-team-spots

2023 NFL Draft All-Breakout Team: Justin Flowe, Anthony Richardson anticipated emergents ,(Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M:  Antonio Johnson was quietly one of the best defenders in the league last year. But still, it feels like he’s not talked about enough. The 6’3″, 200-pound defender is the quintessential modern big slot, and 2022 could help him cement himself in the early rounds.) (7-27-22):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2023-nfl-draft-all-breakout-team-justin-flowe-anthony-richardson-anticipated-emergents/

PFF 2022 Preseason Jim Thorpe Award Watch List: Best DB in college football (Big Name, Big School - S ANTONIO JOHNSON, TEXAS A&M:  Johnson definitely will have the “wow” factor in 2022 that already shows on his tape. The long 6-foot-3, 200-pounder covers ground like a gazelle when he gets up to speed. It’s why his 62 targets faced while playing the slot last season resulted in only 228 yards (3.7 yards per target). He may not have a ton of ball production (one pick and one pass breakup last year), but make no mistake, he’s always around the ball.) (7-19-22):  https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-preseason-jim-thorpe-award-watch-list-best-db-2022

Early 2023 NFL Draft Safety Rankings: Texas A&M's Antonio Johnson comes in at No. 1 (1. ANTONIO JOHNSON, TEXAS A&M (JUNIOR):  Johnson is just your run-of-the-mill 6-foot-3, 200-pound slot cornerback in Texas A&M’s defense. His massive wingspan shows up in his ability to take on blocks and bring down ball carriers. Combine that with some serious ability to close at that size, and you see why he earned an 87.4 overall grade last year. He limited his 62 targets last season to a grand total of 228 yards. That comes out to only 3.7 yards per target.  He’ll be playing more traditional safety this upcoming season, which should only serve to bolster his draft stock. Whenever he declares, Johnson should be a scheme fit for every team with the number of different hats that exist in an NFL defense.) (6-28-22):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-early-2023-nfl-draft-safety-rankings

Texas A&M’s 2023 NFL Draft prospects led by Antonio Johnson, Devon Achane (Antonio Johnson, CB:  Texas A&M’s best hopes of a first-round pick seem to rest on the shoulders of cornerback Antonio Johnson. Johnson was predominantly used as a nickel back for the Aggies last fall, and early depth chart projections point to a similar usage this season. However, at 6’3″ and 200 pounds, Johnson has the size, length, and speed to be used at multiple spots across the secondary. He’s been productive at the catch point and can also be utilized as a blitzer.) (6-14-22):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/texas-ams-2023-nfl-draft-prospects/

Safeties to watch for the 2023 NFL draft (Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M:  Antonio Johnson was a consensus four-star recruit coming out of East St. Louis High School during the 2020 recruiting cycle, and was viewed as one of the top players in the state of Illinois. He committed to Texas A&M, and immediately saw time for the Aggies during the 2020 season as a true freshman. Johnson played in seven games, making a start in the Orange Bowl as the Aggies topped North Carolina. On the season he recorded 14 total tackles and broke up a pass.  Last year, he stepped into the starting lineup for Texas A&M, finishing second on the team with 79 tackles. He added five pass breakups — placing third on the team — and also chipped in with 8.5 tackles for a loss. He was named a Second-Team All-SEC performer by the Associated Press.  Johnson was used last season primarily down in the box, as 768 of his 822 snaps came with him aligned near the line of scrimmage. The Aggies used him in the box, on the outside and even in the slot, where he notched this interception against Missouri.) (5-25-22):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/safeties-watch-list-2023-nfl-draft-jordan-battle-jalen-catalon/

2023 NFL Draft: Defensive prospects to watch (Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M:  Johnson is more of a box safety who is physical and has good awareness. He shows a quick key and trigger and is able to get up to speed quickly.) (5-17-22):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2023-nfl-draft-will-anderson-jalen-carter-among-defensive-prospects-to-watch-in-college-football-season/

2023 NFL Draft Breakout Candidates at DB: D.J. Graham, Antonio Johnson lead the way (Antonio Johnson, DB, Texas A&M:  Texas A&M had two draft-worthy safeties in 2021 with the duo of Demani Richardson and Leon O’Neal Jr. Still, the best prospect in the Aggies’ secondary, by far, could end up being Antonio Johnson.  Johnson is one of the most exciting returning players in college football. He has some hype already, but with another leap like the one he took in 2021, he can dwarf his current expectations.  Johnson is 6’3″, 200 pounds, but primarily operates out of the slot for the Aggies. That role served him well in 2021, as he amassed 79 tackles, 8½ tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, and five passes defensed. Johnson’s combination of length and elite athleticism serves him well. But he’s also a smart defender and a constant communicator who shows great zone awareness and a willingness to come downhill and enforce in run defense.) (5-11-22):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2023-nfl-draft-breakout-candidates-at-db-d-j-graham-antonio-johnson-lead-the-way/

2023 NFL Draft Watch List: Defense (Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M:  Johnson filled the slot role in Texas A&M’s defense as a sophomore last season, but he can be so much more than that in the NFL. He’s an ultra-long defensive back at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds with legit closing burst. He earned an 89.5 run-defense grade and an 88.7 coverage grade last season because of his work around the ball.) (5-9-22) :  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-nfl-draft-watch-list-defense


Posted by LionsFan at 6:29 PM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
.main-inner .sidebar .Poll { background-color: #AD966C; padding: 15px; }