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Photo of Herman Johnson
Grade
?
  • 5.51 SEC
    Top Performer
  • 21 REPS
    Top Performer
  • 6'7" Height
  • 364LBS. Weight

Overview

Possibly the largest player in college football, one might suspect Johnson is a dominant football player because he can block just about anything with his massive girth -- perhaps even sunlight. He shows surprising athleticism along with his size and strength, and teamed with left tackle Cirron Black to give LSU as formidable a left side along the line as any team in the country. In fact, while LSU's talented skill position players received much of the attention last season for the Tigers' offensive production in winning the national title, the play of the offensive line played a huge role. Johnson was such a force last season that his play led SEC coaches to vote him First Team all-conference in his first season as the full-time starter. Had an arm span of 36 1/2 inches and a hand span of 11 3/8 inches at the combine.

Analysis

Strengths

Positives: Naturally massive man who looks to be in reasonable shape. Good initial quickness off the snap despite his size. Gives the defensive tackle a formidable jolt with his hand punch and settles into position. Generally plays with good leverage and has the upper body strength to extend his arms and keep the pass rusher at bay. Surprising lateral quickness and balance for a player his size. Alert pass blocker who keeps his head on a swivel. Good straight-ahead drive blocker. Gains movement on his initial surge and has the hand placement and strength to turn defenders from the hole. Slow to get to the second level, but gives good effort and is a such a huge diversion, he can effectively block defenders from the ballcarrier without making the play. Negatives: Only has one season of starting experience and teamed with left tackle Cirron Black, a legitimate NFL talent in his own right, to anchor the left side. Can improve his sustaining of blocks. Can get fundamentally lazy and attempt to latch on to defenders, rather than moving his feet, making him susceptible to coverage sacks. Has struggled with weight issues in the past -- arrived at LSU at more than 400 pounds.
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Grade Title Draft (Round) Description
96-100 Future Hall of Famer Top Pick A once-in-a-generation type prospect who could change how his position is played
85-95 Immediate Starter 1st An impact player with the ability/intangibles to become a Pro Bowl player. Expect to start immediately except in a unique situation (i.e. behind a veteran starter).
70-84 Eventual Starter 2nd-3rd A quality player who will contribute to the team early on and is expected to develop into a starter. A reliable player who brings value to the position.
50-69 Draftable Player 4th-7th A prospect with the ability to make team as a backup/role player. Needs to be a special teams contributor at applicable positions. Players in the high range of this category might have long-term potential.
20-49 Free Agent UDFA A player with solid measurables, intangibles, college achievements, or a developing skill that warrants an opportunity in an NFL camp. In the right situation, he could earn a place on a 53-man roster, but most likely will be a practice squad player or a camp body.

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