Iowa State DB Anthony Johnson Jr. Says Steelers See Him As Versatile Safety/Nickel Piece – Steelers Depot

Are you in search of a day-three match for the Pittsburgh Steelers in your mock drafts? What a couple of versatile defensive again that may presumably play security and nickel? In case you are in search of each of these issues, you may wish to contemplate Iowa State defensive again Anthony Johnson Jr., who had his professional day on Tuesday in entrance of a big Steelers contingent.

For starters, Johnson, who made the transfer from cornerback to security final season at Iowa State, was put by way of his Tuesday professional day drills by Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin whereas each head coach Mike Tomlin and normal supervisor Omar Khan noticed. After his professional day was over with, Johnson had a short media session and it included him being requested some very particular questions.

Johnson was requested Tuesday if the Steelers have instructed him how they envision him becoming into their protection with him being such a flexible defensive again.

“I feel they’re gonna play me at security and nickel, simply as the flexibility piece to have the ability to play excessive and roll down with out switching your protection,” Johnson mentioned.

Johnson was then requested what he thinks about the opportunity of enjoying such a spot in a protection.

“Oh, I adore it,” Johnson mentioned. “I satisfaction myself of with the ability to play any place within the again finish.”

Later in his submit professional day exercise interview, Johnson was requested in regards to the transition he created from cornerback to security in 2022 being a straightforward one for him to make and why.

“It helped me lots simply with the protection side of going in opposition to high outdoors receivers who’re sometimes extra well-rounded of their routes and stuff like that,” Johnson mentioned. “To have the ability to cowl the slots, who often have velocity and stuff like that. So, it was nice for me.”

Johnson additionally defined how he thinks his demonstrated place versatility in school can probably assist him within the NFL.

“It’s one thing that they’re in search of, particularly in at the moment’s sport,” Johnson mentioned. “They need to have the ability to have a security who can play excessive. And in the event that they’re [offenses] splitting five-wide, a security that may go right down to nickel. I’m additionally a security that may make performs across the field, so it may hold me on subject.”

Johnson, a 2023 NFLPA Bowl choice after the 2022 season ended, was additionally a participant on the 2023 NFL Scouting Mix a couple of weeks in the past in Indianapolis. He measured in on the occasion at 6’0″, 205-pounds with 31 1/4-inch arms and eight 3/4-inch arms. Within the mix drills, Johnson represented himself effectively as he ran the 40-yard-dash in 4.54-seconds with a 10-yard cut up of 1.55-seconds. He additionally registered a vertical leap of 37.5 on the mix to associate with an equally spectacular broad leap size of 10’5″.

For his school profession at Iowa State, Johnson registered 245 tackles with 14 leading to misplaced yardage. He additionally had three sacks, two interceptions, 28 passes defensed and 5 compelled fumbles within the 57 complete video games that he performed in over 5 seasons. By the way in which, each of his interceptions got here this previous season.

Along with his professional day now behind him, it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if the Steelers deliver Johnson to Pittsburgh for a pre-draft go to subsequent month. In the event that they do, it might enhance his possibilities of being a day-three choice of theirs. The Steelers may definitely use a younger robust security with nickel place versatility to groom and from what I can inform to this point, Johnson suits that want on many ranges.

We’ll attempt to get a full draft profile of Johnson up on the positioning within the subsequent week so be looking out for that.