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Player Profile - 3.28.09

Pros: Johnson is the biggest player in this year’s class, standing almost 6’8 and weighing over 350 pounds. He was over 400 pounds before his freshman year at LSU, but he’s worked hard to get in the best shape possible and now looks much more athletic. His wingspan allows the offensive lineman to keep defenders away from his body. Despite being enormous, the former Tiger shows good agility and is surprisingly athletic for his size. He gets out of his stance quickly both on runs and in pass blocking. Johnson is a tough and intelligent player, as well as an intimidating one—he plays with a mean streak. He never looks lost or unsure of his responsibility. His stock is rising with talk of him possibly playing tackle at the NFL level. Scouts and coaches were pleased that he was willing to play both guard and tackle at the Senior Bowl.

Cons: He is quick for his size but probably not quick enough to handle playing left tackle. He struggles with quick defenders and is not exceptionally good at picking up linebackers at the second level. The former Bayou Bengal does not do well when asked to pull on sweeps due to his inability to get out in front of the runner. Johnson can get lazy at times with his blocks and can rely too much on his long arms to shield defenders.

Scouts Take: Johnson is a very interesting prospect because of his enormous size. He would probably excel as a guard but could benefit his team more if he can handle playing tackle. He struggled at the Senior Bowl when he played right tackle, but that was expected due to his lack of experience playing on the outside. He was a team leader and understands the team first concept, which is very important for a young player that is asked to switch positions. He played against top-notch competition in the SEC and held his own with some of the nation’s top interior defensive linemen. The LSU product will not be a good fit for every team, but expect Johnson to go somewhere in round two. With good coaching and the ability to learn quickly, Johnson should start for his team next season at either guard position or right tackle. He has the size and ability to be a future All-Pro.

School Bio

2.23.09 - Johnson weighed in at 364, showing that he’s continuing to drop weigh from the 400+ number he played at while he was at LSU. Draft Guys

1.23.09 - Herman Johnson was overmatched at times, particularly when asked to block fellow SEC product Peria Jerry, who had him backpedaling and stumbling on several occasions. The big man was overpowered at times, and while some like his potential as a tackle, I’m not sure the lateral quickness is there and believe he should remain at guard. - The NFL Draft Bible On Location At The Senior Bowl

1.21.09 – Herman Johnson moved his feet better today, steering speed rusher David Veikune (DE-Hawaii) past the QB and recovering when initially beaten by Lawrence Sidbury (DE-Richmond). Johnson was still exposed at times when lined up at tackle, but looked like a force on a few reps at guard in the pit. - Draft Guys On Location at the Senior Bowl

1.20.09 – Herman Johnson had a rough day, especially when he was lined up at tackle. He was left in the dust by Kyle Moore on multiple occasions and looked vulnerable when he was left on an island. His strength is apparent when he gets his hands on his opponent, but it's hard to imagine him as anything but a guard at the next level. - Draft Guys On Location at the Senior Bowl

Scout's Take - 8.15.08

Pros: Johnson is a guard, but has the versatility and capability to play tackle at the next level. You cannot teach size and Johnson checks in at 6'7" and 351 pounds—the biggest man to ever play on the gridiron in Baton Rouge. That size makes him a major factor in the run game, allowing him to simply overpower the opposition. He has dropped weight since arriving at Baton Rouge, which has helped improve his flexibility. He possesses solid footwork and is nimble enough that the Tigers have used the giant in the backfield in short-yardage situations. He has played in 37 games (25 starts) and he went over 1,000 snaps last season, something only one other Tiger has ever done.

Cons: At times, he can be sloppy in his technique. Johnson can get away with just physically overwhelming opponents at the college level, even in the SEC, but will have to clean up his game and be more fundamentally sound to play at a high level as a professional. He also needs to do a better job of finishing plays. While he is very comfortable at 350 pounds, Johnson did arrive in Baton Rouge at a whopping 400 pounds—his weight and conditioning need to be monitored or they could be an issue down the road.

Overall: Took over for Will Arnold early in the 2006 season and played well before stepping in as the full-time left guard where he earned First Team All-SEC honors as a junior. Johnson should have an All-American senior season and could challenge Duke Robinson as the top guard in the class of 2008. The physical abilities are there for Johnson to be among the more dominant offensive linemen if he puts the time and effort into smoothing out his game and staying in tip-top condition.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media