Tyrell Johnson, 2008 NFL Draft Prospect

Safety 6' 0" 207 lbs. Speed: 4.43 Arkansas State Senior Strengths: Size, speed, feet, plant and turn ability Weakness: Experience, technique

What a fantastic prospect, if he would have played for a larger school we would have been talking about him all year as a potential first round pick. Instead most scouts didn’t really hear much about him until he was invited to the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine. After that fantastic performance, we all went back and looked at as much game film as we could get. What I saw was a player with the skills that translate into him becoming possibly a pro bowl safety in two or three years.  He is physically developed and looked like a man among boys playing for Arkansas State in the Sun Belt conference.

He stays low in his back pedal and then he plants and explodes forward to make the tackle or make a play on the ball. Plus he turns and runs as good as any cornerback in this draft. He is also a great leaper; even the big receivers will have trouble out jumping him for the ball.  I think he has the talent to start as a rookie at free safety and maybe even at cornerback.

He has no weaknesses physically, but will have to make a huge transition mentally to play safety in the NFL. Safety is a very cerebral position and he will have a lot to learn recognizing coverages, routes, and learning the nuances of complex zone NFL defenses. He will have to really be a student of the game to play early. He will have to improve his pass coverage technique, he has the speed and athletic ability, just hasn’t played as much coverage as what you would like to see in college.

I don’t normally link to other web site’s scouting reports, but I wanted you all to look at the video of Tyrell Johnson working out at the NFL Combine. I see just incredible explosiveness in that video, I don’t know if there is a more explosive defensive back in this draft, he is definitely on par with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in that regard.

Speaking of the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine, Johnson was arguably the most impressive prospect on the field.  At 6’ 0” 207 pounds he ran a 4.43 second forty yard dash, benched 225 pounds an amazing 27 times and broad jumped 10.07.  As far as size, speed and strength, he has no equals at the safety position in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Marcellous Tyrell Johnson comes from good blood lines, his mother was a sprinter at University of Arkansas and in high school he played running back with 49 career touchdowns, receiver, and also had 18 kickoff returns for 339 yards and one TD .  As a defensive back he had three interceptions (returned one for score) and recorded 20 tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered 2 fumbles.  He also played basketball and participated in track and field for three years.

In 2005, as a sophomore he played in all 12 games and led team in tackles with 112 (83 solo, 29 assists). He also had two pass interceptions for 112 return yards.

2006, as a junior he was a First Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection and led Arkansas State in tackles for the second consecutive year with 63 (43 solo/20 asst.)

This year (2007) as a senior, Johnson was a four-year All-Sun Belt Conference selection, including a first-team selection each of the last three seasons, and finished his career as the Sun Belt Conference’s all-time tackles leader.  He was also named to Phil Steele’s and Rivals.com 2007 All-Sun Belt Conference Team. He finished with an impressive 94 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 6 interceptions with 142 return yards and 4 pass break ups.

Look for Johnson to even be selected in the bottom part of the first round, the entire NFC East needs help at the safety position. Late first, early second round, one of the NFC East teams will likely grab him. I have the Giants taking him at the end of round one in my 2008 NFL Mock Draft, some have criticized me for making that selection, but trust me on this one, Johnson is that good.