Where Missouri State football’s Eric Johnson could go in the NFL Draft

Missouri State defensive lineman Eric Johnson is destined to be the primary Bear to be chosen in the course of the NFL Draft in additional than a decade.

Standout seasons in the course of the 2021 spring and fall together with collegiate all-star video games ought to see Johnson being the primary participant to be taken out of this system since offensive lineman David Arkin was chosen within the fourth spherical with the a hundred and tenth general choose by the Dallas Cowboys in 2011.

Most mock drafts and massive boards embody Johnson as one of many prime defensive linemen. Most assume he’ll be taken in one of many first few rounds of the third day.

The Athletic known as Johnson the highest-graded non-combine prospect on this 12 months’s draft. He is the Thirteenth-ranked defensive linemen based on the web site and has a fifth-round grade.

“General, Johnson must develop extra constant pad degree and run recognition for the subsequent degree, however he flashes phonebooth explosiveness, useful hand use and play vary,” The Athletic wrote. “He ought to attraction to a number of schemes and is ideally suited as a five-technique or quick-penetrating three-technique.”

Extra:Missouri State soccer’s Eric Johnson shined at all-star video games. His NFL goals are actually getting greater.

The Athletic teases there aren’t many three-technique defensive linemen within the draft however Johnson is one among them — rising the chance of him being chosen. 

At Johnson’s professional day, he ran a 4.86 within the 40-yard sprint whereas weighing in at 299 kilos. Johnson has labored out with the Saints, Lions, Chargers, Colts, Packers, Bengals and Bears in the course of the predraft course of.

Utilizing Scouts Inc.’s 2022 draft rankings, ESPN has Johnson because the 154th general participant within the draft whereas praising his capacity towards the run and toughness and motor. That is ok to be the Eleventh-best defensive sort out. 

ESPN senior author Jeff Legwold lately wrote that Johnson was the “no-combine outlier.” Legwold additionally wrote about Johnson’s performances on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and Senior Bowl the place his identify caught numerous consideration. He wrote how he is impressed with Johnson’s sturdiness after enjoying 48 profession video games together with begins within the last 42 video games of his faculty profession.

Extra:What we realized from Missouri State soccer’s last scrimmage of the 2022 spring

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller has Johnson as his 157th general prospect and Thirteenth ranked defensive sort out. His seven-round mock draft posted Tuesday has Johnson going 132nd general to Inexperienced Bay.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein initiatives Johnson as a sixth-round choose whereas noting his construct, power and size to play a number of positions alongside the road.

Seventeen gamers have been drafted out of Missouri State in this system’s historical past. The best-drafted participant out of MSU was offensive guard Tom Mullen in 1974 when he was chosen with the twenty eighth choose in the course of the second spherical.

Extra:What Kansas State switch RB Jacardia Wright brings to Missouri State soccer’s offense

Dylan Cole is the one lively former Missouri State participant on an NFL roster. Cole lately signed a one-year deal to stay a Tennessee Titan.

Present Missouri State head coach Bobby Petrino has developed 34 NFL Draft picks throughout his profession. Johnson must be the thirty fifth.

Notable mock drafts

• ESPN.com’s Matt Miller — Fourth spherical, 132nd general to Inexperienced Bay
• NFL.com’s Chad Reuter — Fourth spherical, 154th general to Philadelphia
• ESPN’s Jordan Reid — Fourth spherical, 136th general to Cincinnati
• CBS Sports activities’ Ryan Wilson — Fifth spherical, 179th general to Indianapolis
• The Athletic’s Dane Brugler — Fifth spherical, 171st general to Inexperienced Bay

Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield Information-Chief. You possibly can contact him at 417-371-6987, by electronic mail at wwheeler@news-leader.com or Twitter at @WyattWheeler_NL. He is additionally the co-host of Sports activities Discuss on Jock Radio weekdays from 4-6 p.m.