I just need you here to be yourself and be what I think you can be. For a guy that I didn't really know, to have that kind of belief in me as a player and a person and give me the opportunity that I wanted and trust me not to take advantage of it and trust me to handle that position with care, that's all I really was. Conservatively, I think 4-5th 6-7th are accurate for both Corbin and Thomas but it wouldnt surprise me if they fall into the UDFA category. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Realize everybody comes from all backgrounds. cmlwdCc+PC9zY3JpcHQ+CjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9J3ZpZGVvLWNvbnRhaW5lcicg The 2022 NFL Draft kicks off this week, beginning with the first round this Thursday, starting at 8 p.m. and set to be broadcast on ESPN, ABC and NFL Network.. Subscribe using the link at the top of the page and never miss a moment. Atlantic Coast Conference Football Player of the Year, "How Jermaine Johnson went from Kansas to Georgia Bulldogs", "Linebacker Jermaine Johnson is coming into his own for Georgia", "Jermaine Johnson adjusts from 'Last Chance U' stardom to limitations at Georgia", "Jermaine Johnson, nation's No. Youve got to be wired different to come back from what he's come back from. The junior college route was needed for me, I feel like, in a few different ways. If theres a big difference, then you need to figure out whats going on and whats the difference between the tape. So Staley wanted to see who would win in a simulated pass rush rep. At 6-foot-4, 324 pounds, Kinnard significantly outweighedJohnson (6-4 , 259 pounds). You see length. Reach Andre Fernandez at afernandez@tallahassee.com or follow him on Twitter@FernandezAndreC. And I love playing and being good at it. Yeah, I mean that was a factor. I think I'm pretty good at it. So just treat everybody the same. We understand that hard work works. It's fun to be around guys that want to work. We just clicked on the same page. VE0tTUY2UFhYQycpOwo8L3NjcmlwdD4KPG5vc2NyaXB0Pgo8aWZyYW1lIGhl Overlooked and underrecruited as a 2017 prospect out of high school in Minnesota, Johnson struggled to pick up offers from FBS schools. To be a leader, to be somebody that could help mentor younger guys and to be able to make an impact that goes beyond just the year that hes going to be here, that will carry on and to help set that foundation.. I just bring in leadership, bring in some camaraderie, I think, like I said, Coach Norvell, it is a big culture change going on around here. And the same thing at Georgia, those guys work. Jermaine Johnson is best player on the FSU team UGA Alum '95 (@UGA_AlumADS1995) September 6, 2021 Former Dawg Jermaine Johnson looking good for FSU tonight! Still has some room to add size once he gets in a Power 5 strength program. That goes on. Johnson still carefully approached the week, missing the final practice and game for precautionary reasons. I believe we can get this thing going in the right direction. Yeah, I mean that was a factor. Me, I am honest and I am real all the time. Projects as an instant contributor and likely starter at the Power 5 level with the ability to develop into a early to mid round NFL Draft pick. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). So does everybody else in this program. Youd have to ask them for that, but I gave them everything I got and still do.. So we get a better sense of that player. I believe what him and the other staff got going here. He believed in who I was as a man. No one covers the Noles like the Tallahassee Democrat. He can set a hard edge. KGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgewogICAgdmFyIHMgPSBkb2N1bWVudC5jcmVhdGVFbGVt I didn't know any of them personally prior. I mean just think of the guy's story. I watched his highlights and stuff back in high school to get me ready for a game. He has the goods from an athletic and build standpoint., Pride of Detroit: FSU edge defender Jermaine Johnson visits Detroit Lions on pre-draft visit Could the Lions be considering Jermaine Johnson with the second overall pick or are they doing due diligence in case they trade down in the 2022 NFL Draft?, Big Blue View: 2022 NFL Draft prospect profile - Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State The Giants could certainly use a player with Johnsons tools, but has he really worked his way from an unknown to the Top 10 in just one year?, The Falcoholic: The Falcoholic selects FSU EDGE Jermaine Johnson at No. Noles News: Is Jared Verse the best edge rusher in college football? Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. How do his skills translate to the next level? He embodies that mentality, just being a professional before hes a pro. There are no chip blocks. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. I think we've got the right guys here now to do it and the right guys we're bringing in to do it. They believe in what we got going here. All rights reserved. Johnson amassed 36 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, seven sacks, 11 quarterback hurries and a pass breakups across those two seasons. 16 Seminoles host USF: Game thread, starting pitchers, how to watch, Noles News: Top-25 wins and losses, AD Alford expresses concern for Florida States role in ACC, Noles News: Baseball takes on No. It wasn't like, Oh, we were lacking here, we need you here. It was, This is the kind of person that you are, this is the kind of character that I hear that you have. Check out Jermaine Johnson II's College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits and More College Stats at Sports-Reference.com . Johnson even said that he, Milton, FSU redshirt sophomore quarterback Jordan Travis and others on the team have a leadership council that meets to plan the best ways to guide younger players on the team. But I thought Jermaine Johnson kind of put an exclamation point on what he did during his fantastic senior season with the Seminoles. He was a monster. The Athletics Dane Brugler has Johnson ranked 46th overall among his top 50 draft prospects, but praised his pursuit, awareness and open field finish following the Miami game. I think coming into this offseason, we know where we can be. The talented pass-rusher, who transferred to FSU from Georgia in December, is focused on using his unique football journey to help motivate his Seminole teammates. FSU edge defender Jermaine Johnson visits Detroit Lions on pre-draft visit, The Falcoholic selects FSU EDGE Jermaine Johnson at No. Tall, long edge rusher. It's really not much to it. While there aren't a multitude of . Ive got Corbin in the 4th/5th range and Thomas in the 6th/7th. Especially last week on the National Team at the 2022 Reeses Senior Bowl, the annual postseason all-star game in Mobile, Ala. that features dozens of top draft prospects. I just feel more comfortable playing on the edge. But like I said, Ill do anything the team needs me to do to win - special teams, playing different, anywhere else - whatever they need me to do I do.". Z3RtX2F1dGg9JysnS2hINmhlQ3BvV0pVSG5xVnpkRWE3dycrCiAgICAgICAg Johnsons defensive coordinator at Georgia, Dan Lanning, began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant on two different staffs with Norvell from 2011-2013, at Pittsburgh and Arizona State. Off the field, Norvell had a vision that even though both would be new to the team, they could still take on the leadership burdens traditionally reserved for the longest-tenured players on a college roster. ", "eah, I mean I heard about McKenzie coming here, Coach Norvell told me about that. Theres debate about who won the final rep. Brugler said it looked like a stalemate. But hes no slug. I mean just think of the guy's story. Position: LB/DE 6-5, 260lb (196cm, 117kg) Draft: 1st round, 26th overall of the 2022 NFL draft by the New York Jets. LXRhbGVudC1wZXJzcGVjdGl2ZS10by1mc3UtZm9vdGJhbGwiCiAgfSk7CiAg Who will get a shot as an undrafted free agent? I have a great support system in my family. Like I said culture change and doing everything right off the field, everything else will transition to the field. Weve got everything we need and now it is moving in the right direction. He has a lot of the things that you are looking for. We always bounce ideas off of each other when it comes to the team. I ended up being the No. It's not surprising the Lions would have interest in spending more time with Johnson, a consensus top-12 prospect in the 2022 NFL draft. d2luZG93Ll9kaWRBc3luY0luamVjdEdvb2dsZVRhZ01hbmFnZXIpIHJldHVy CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Coach Norvell, he was the first person to call me. He recorded 70 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 2 fumbles forced through. And hold everybody to the same standard. Gambling problem? Johnson, an All-American candidate, is a semifinalist for the Lombardi and Bednarik Awards, and was named a midseason All-American by CBS Sports. He called me personally. Keir is a round 6-7 player who will more likely go the undrafted free agent route. Detroit Lions assistant coach Duce Staley, who served as head coach for the National Team, pitted Johnson against former Kentucky offensive tackle Darian Kinnard in a one-on-one showdown after practice. I believe we can get this thing going in the right direction. 14 to the Baltimore Ravens) and Karlaftis (No. Just be kind, figure out how you can help people. . #FSU Draftees Combine Comparison:Jermaine Johnson ('22) 6'5 254 Ibs40: 4.58s10-yard split: 1.55sVert: 32'Broad: 12'5Arm Length: 34'Wingspan: 82 7/8'Brian Burns ('19) 6'5 249 lbs40: 4.53s10-yard split: 1.54sVert: 36'Broad: 12'9Arm Length: 33 7/8'Wingspan: 83 5/8'. Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller shared an example of Johnsons relentless pursuit on the practice field: I go back Friday and were practicing and we run a naked out-of-pocket play and Jermaine sprints 20 yards on a Friday at 9:30 in the morning to chase the guy down. Y3JpcHQ+CiAgPGltZyBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vc2Iuc2NvcmVjYXJkcmVzZWFy But Johnsons practices from earlier in the week were enough to further elevatehis profile. I just feel more comfortable playing on the edge. But there are several examples where it just didnt work out as planned.. Jermaine Johnson II (@ii_jermaine) December 26, 2020 There was a need for Norvell and co. to land an impact pass rusher and they got just that. But in terms of here, I'm here now. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He finished his college career by recording 70 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles . You got to earn the respect of people. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. : Man, the whole staff, theyre a great group of guys. I wake up every day, like I said, I feel blessed, Johnson said. [9] Johnson had seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in his first game for the Seminoles, a 41-38 overtime loss to Notre Dame, and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week. So I feel like it was a necessary sacrifice and Id do it all again. Brugler, an NFL Draft analyst for The Athletic, instead prefers one of Johnsons 18 tackles for a loss. 2 to the Detroit Lions), Thibodeaux (No. And that fits well with the program. Has good hands with the ability to disengage from offensive linemen. And I feel like, with that goal, moving forward each day at a time, this program, everything will line up, and it will become what we want it to be. Im a strong believer that you keep the team first, and you do what the team needs you to do, your individual success will come after. Noles News: Is Jared Verse the best edge rusher in college football? Its very helpful, because it gives us the chance to evaluate a player in a different scheme, with a different coach and in a different situation, Brugler said. He contains really well. Try to do what makes you happy in life. The lasting impression Johnson left on analysts like Brugler from those types of plays has only continued to grow in the pre-draft process. ***Don't miss out on our great FSU Football and Recruiting coverage. In the practices before last Saturdays game, Johnson garnered national attention. "Are you willing to do that? Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. I think we've got the right guys here now to do it and the right guys we're bringing in to do it. You come in, you work, and you guys grow together. You run out of reasons why not, why he shouldnt be considered as a top 10, top 15 type of pick. 10, New York Jets. ", "Most definitely. 8 TCU, The Battles End goes public, He has a good first step with long strides, He varies his moves- not relying too heavily on one or two moves, He has good spatial and situational awareness. So if everybody thinks like that in a program, you keep the team first, I promise all those accolades, all those individual successes, those will come shortly after.". ", "Of course. Jermaine Johnson II is a 6'5" 260 lb defensive Edge rusher with a linebacker body. Reach Carter Karelsat ckarels@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter@CarterKarels. Again. And that fits well with the program. Johnson accomplished this with a dominant senior season in which recorded 12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss overall, leading the ACC in both categories. He has proven his ability to be comfortable as a classic 4-3 edge defender or a 3-4 outside linebacker throughout his collegiate career. As a prospect Johnson does a few things really well: These skills, like most things in football, are best appreciated through film. I've talked to enough people. I sincerely hope Im wrong and get laughed at for those predictions. Tested as a good athlete in high school before heading to junior college. Johnson was a two-time transfer heading to FSU. CoachAB: Johnson is a player many are projecting in the top 10 but Ive got him slotted a little later in the first. Also, do yourself a favor and close your eyes on the first one: * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). So now I've seen people in my life, not work out well for them as they are growing up, as you transition into an adult. When football's over, you take the lessons you learned, use those going forward. That is what I do. He was already well thought of coming in, so I dont think that necessarily what he did is going to skyrocket his draft grades or anything like that, Brugler said. , Jason Daniel (@JRD24Dawg) September 6, 2021, FinsForLife (@life_fins) September 6, 2021, Jermaine Johnson II and Akeem Dent Jr making Florida State defense look nasty, Lawrence Dennis (@Txman210) September 6, 2021. I ended up being the No. My favorite two fits are Baltimore or New England, JJ is a culture guy and both of those places have foundations in place for him to flourish. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Please update it here. And I feel like that was the case for me and a lot of other players at a lot of other sports in the country. ", "I will be whatever I can be for this team, whatever they need me to be. Johnsons sacks and tackles for loss were the most for an FSU defender since Walker, now with the Houston Texans, had 21.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks the season he won the award in 2016. Shows quickness off the edge with a high-level first step. I think he has that both in his awareness, the way he sees the game, and also having the physical tools to do something about it., #FloridaState DE Jermaine Johnson had another standout day on Saturday with 3.0 sacks. And so did my head coach, Coach Brown, and the staff over there. I think all those guys are, and that's gonna come to fruition this next season. We support responsible gambling. Slot to Florida State Seminoles Newsletter. And I feel that God put me on that path for a reason. It will not be the same season they had last year, and like I said earlier, McKenzie comes from a winning program, Coach Norvell comes from a winning program, I come from a winning program, Johnson said. To me he is still a round 5-7 guy who could be a preferred UDFA, meaning he will have some options if he is not drafted. Jermaine Johnson II was one of the few bright spots from a mediocre 2021 season for the Florida State Seminoles. L3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNvbS9ndG0uanM/aWQ9JytpK2RsKycm Soooo yeah, Jermaine Johnson is that guy. I care so much about Florida State and the people involved.. ICAgIGo9ZC5jcmVhdGVFbGVtZW50KHMpLGRsPWwhPSdkYXRhTGF5ZXInPycm But one conversation with FSU coach Mike Norvell convinced him that coming to Tallahassee was the right decision. I feel like thats invaluable, and I cant wait for what this season holds for us., ----------------------------------------------------, Talk about this story with other Florida State football fans in the Tribal Council, PHNjcmlwdD4KICAoZnVuY3Rpb24odyxkLHMsbCxpKXsKICAgICAgICBpZiAo When your best players are your hardest workers, they can be an example of what it takes, said coach Mike Norvell. Hes been projected as high as No. Johnson received 53 of the 64 votes after he was also the leagues top vote-getter in All-ACC voting. Johnson started his career at Georgia in 2019. Dalvin Cook, you know James Cook is my former teammate at the University of Georgia. The whole program gets held to the same standard. Thats how I was raised. You tell us we have to go through that to get it done and be able to play our sport, that's what we were going to do. Defensive linemen only have to beat one player and can take longer than usual. We love our sports and we love competing so much. They've also had three coaching changes. 4 to the New York Jets and is a virtual lock to be selected in the first round. Love them. I watched his highlights and stuff back in high school to get me ready for a game. Thats the goal. Some scouts, coaches and analysts considered him to have the best week of practice among players participating. You can't gauge a person like that. Brugler said Johnson, Georgias Travon Walker, Michigans David Ojabo and Purdues George Karlaftis comprise the second tier at that position. Football facilities upgrades: FSU AD Michael Alford updates Board of Trustees on current, future projects, state of NIL, Newcomers start their careers: Four Florida State freshmen explain why they did not sign with other top programs, FSU men's basketball: 'Weatherman' Harrison Prieto balancing increased role with FSU basketball, master's degree, His ability to read it that quickly and take the right angle to make the tackle for loss was so, so impressive, Brugler told the Democrat. 26 overall. They believe in what we got going here. But if he was a top 25 pick coming in, now you start to run out of reasons why he cant go higher. Johnson grew up in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and attended Eden Prairie High School. Its huge for the young guys. You do anything how you do everything. That ties into how great this program can become again, and I'm excited to be a part of that rebuild. Its why Brugler projects him as a 10-year NFL starter with Pro Bowl upside. Its head coaching changes, like I said. Prior to attending Georgia, Johnson played at Last Chance U Independence C.C.