NFL Draft Profile: Antonio Johnson, Safety, Texas A&M Aggies
#27
Pos: S
Ht: 6020
Wt: 198
Hand: 0968
Arm: 3218
Wing: 7778
40: 4.52
DOB: 10/29/2001
Hometown: East Saint Louis, IL
High School: East Saint Louis
Eligibility: 2023
Antonio Johnson
Texas A&M Aggies
One-Liner:
A contemporary defensive back, Johnson defines the role of an Apex defender with equal coverage and run defense skills.
Evaluation:
Long, drawn-out frame with lengthy limbs. Primarily positioned as a big nickel, with responsibilities over number 2 and in-the-box support. Signal caller that aligns his secondary. Ball finds him. Functional athlete with adequate speed and fluidity. Can click and close on out routes and in breakers. Even in his pedal, with the ability to weave into support. Mirrors tight ends and slot receivers in man coverage. Feet react before he does on screen plays, arriving prior to blocking setups. Eyes follow the hips of his assignment. Fast enough to float from the line of scrimmage to the hash at the snap. Carries vertical concepts whether it be rail routes up the boundary or pass catchers stretching the seam. Squeezes spaces between the hash and boundary. Marvelous in his blitz technique. Has the speed to charge from depth and the intelligence not to tip it off. Exceptional in the role of a box safety. Plays the run with linebacker technique. Quintessential form tackler, seldom allowing ball carriers out of his grasp. Strong at the point of attack, shedding tight ends and holding his own against linemen multiple times. Light frame despite his length. Long speed and range are question marks even if due to his alignment. Rarely opens up and shows speed in space. Length prohibits some mobility in his hips and suddenness from back-pedal to speed-turn. Johnson stars in the role of nickel and Apex defender thanks to his length, athleticism, and mental processing. With added versatility including more snaps as a post safety, Johnson could find himself amongst the top defensive backs in 2023.
Grade:
Early 2nd Round
Quotes:
One half of the Aggies dynamic safety duo, Johnson prowls the secondary like Batman. A cover safety who predominantly lines up at nickelback, the plan for this upcoming season is to move Johnson around like a chess piece, which bodes well for his draft stock. He can navigate the open field like a centerfielder or step up in the box like a linebacker. Despite a lanky frame, Johnson is willing to stick his nose in the dirt and is a key contributor in the run game, capable of making wrap up tackles in the open field. In fact, his lasting legacy at Texas A&M will likely be some of the legendary hits he has delivered during his time in College Station. He totaled 79 tackles a year ago and that number is likely to increase in 2022. While Johnson will need to bulk up for the next level, he possesses a combination of length, natural instincts and position flexibility that could make him first round bound come April. - Ric Serritella
Background:
Antonio Johnson is built like a prototypical safety. At 6’3 two hundred pounds, Johnson has the size to make an impact in any team's secondary. Even during his freshman year, he made an impact for Texas A&M, but really made a difference in his sophomore year. Johnson started in all twelve games and was only second on the team with seventy nine tackles. With all of these stats and his performance for Texas A&M last season, Johnson was awarded Mr. Dependable for the Defensive side of the ball as well as the Defensive Playmaker Award for the team. Based on the awards he has earned, Johnson has tremendous potential.
