2020 NFL Draft Diamonds Scouting Report: David Johnson, DB, Tusculum University
2020 NFL Scouting Report: David Johnson, DB, Tusculum University by Brandon Davis
- Name: David Johnson
- Height: 5110
- Weight: 183 lbs.
- Position: CB/FS
- Draft Class: 2020
- College: Tusculum University
- Hometown: Greenwood, SC
- High School: Emerald HS
Games Watched: Career Highlights, 2018 Highlights
Career Stats: 35 GP, 89 Tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 3 Sacks, 5 INTs, 13 BRUP
Positives: Play Recognition, Closing Speed, Block Shedding, Zone Coverage Discipline, Trail Coverage Technique
Negatives: COD Skills, Tackling form in open field, Level of Competition
Projection: A free safety that plays best in zone coverage where he can break on the ball & undercut passes with his closing speed. Can be an emergency corner that uses trail technique to stay on a receiver’s hip.
Scheme Fit: Free safety in a zone coverage scheme
Summary: A four-year player that has played a total of 35 games for HC Jerry Odom. Has adequate height & weight with a lean frame that has some room to add more pounds if needed. Decent arm length & okay hand size. Plays defense with good play speed, AA, foot quickness, and closing speed. Shows good mental processing skills to diagnose plays with his eyes.
Demonstrates good zone coverage discipline & versatility when playing as a corner & free safety. Has great body positioning when playing on the boundary, funneling & squeezing receivers to the inside away from the sideline. Displays decent trail coverage technique in man coverage to stay on a receiver’s hip. Breaks on the ball quickly with his closing speed when playing zone coverage as a free safety, and flashes it when blitzing off the edge. Relies on AA & quickness to beat blocks against bubble screens. Has hard hitting ability when tackling on the boundary, or in the open field. His level of competition is low overall, has somewhat stiff hips, causing his COD skills to be marginal. Is not a form tackler on a consistent basis, will tend to tackle high while playing along the boundary. Will go for the big hit more often than not, aiming low around a ballcarrier’s knee or ankle in the open field.
At the pro level, Johnson is a free safety that plays best in a zone coverage scheme where he can utilize his closing speed to make plays on the ball. If needed, he can be an emergency corner to use trail technique in man coverage.
NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com