Texas A&M defensive back Antonio Johnson will enter 2023 NFL Draft

Antonio Johnson — a powerful tackling defensive back with strong coverage skills — on Tuesday announced he was forgoing his senior season at Texas A&M to enter the 2023 NFL Draft.

The draft will be held April 27-29 in Kansas City.

Johnson has been projected as high as a first-round selection.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Johnson arrived at Texas A&M as a four-star prospect out of East St. Louis (Ill.) High School.

He was an immediate contributor and went on to earn All-SEC recognition. He was also named to the Pro Football Focus All-American first team in 2021.

Playing primarily as a nickel back, Johnson completed his A&M career with 164 tackles, including 14 for lost yardage. He also had two sacks, eight passes broken up, four forced fumbles and an interception.

Though Johnson missed all of three games and most of another to injury this season, he still posted 71 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, a pass break up and three forced fumbles.

He had at least eight tackles in six games and had double-figure tackle totals in four.

Johnson’s best season was in 2021 as a sophomore. He had 79 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, a sack, five passes broken up and a forced fumble. He also had an interception in a victory over Missouri.

Johnson hopes to become the first A&M defensive back selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since cornerback Sammy Davis was picked by the San Diego Chargers in 2003.

The most recent A&M defensive back to be drafted was safety Donovan Wilson. He was picked in the sixth round by the Dallas Cowboys in 2019.

The last A&M player selected in the first round was guard Kenyon Green, who was taken by the Houston Texans last April.