21 Players in 21 Days: #17 Antonio Johnson

Position: Defensive Back
Classification: Freshman (RS)
Hometown: East St. Louis, IL
Listed Height: 6-3
Listed Weight: 190

Key notes from Olin’s analysis of Johnson

• I love Antonio Johnson’s games. Stats don’t even tell the story, and they were modest last year. If you watched him and the way he came along, you get the feeling he could be dominant one day.
   
• They used him in so many ways because he’s such a tall guy. In the bowl game, they used him as a pass rusher on some blitzes. He blocked a pass against Sam Howell. He almost had an interception against Mississippi State. He was always involved.
   
• The biggest question I have is how they’re going to work him in. I think he may be too good not to have him out there. He’s big, fast and physical. He’s a wild card for Mike Elko.
   
• He was highly recruited out of East St. Louis. A lot of good players come out of there. I think he was the No. 1 player in that state, and if not, he was really high up there. He's a really good football player.
   
• Who do you take off the field for him? Is it Leon O’Neal who has experience? Demani Richardson who has an NFL future? Erick Young? I do not know, but I know they’re going to find a way to get him on the field.
   
• I think that Antonio Johnson is going to develop into an intimidating force in the secondary, a Patrick Bates type of guy, that you worry about when the ball is snapped. It might not be this year, but he’ll get there. He’s athletic and a hard enough hitter that offenses are going to be finding him and calling their audibles.
   
• When he plays, you can't help but notice him. That’s a great thing for a guy that is just a freshman. He’s only going to get better and better, and that begins with this year. I think he’s too good to leave him off the field. He's going to play a lot more than he did last year.

Follow the entire 21 players in 21 days series here.