Jermaine Johnson wager on himself when he determined to switch from Georgia to Florida State.
Johnson was abandoning a Faculty Soccer Playoff contender for a college the place he would seemingly earn more taking part in time and enhance his professional inventory.
The primary couple of weeks of the season have proven what Johnson gave up whereas additionally revealing what the senior defensive finish could have gained.
Georgia is ranked second within the AP Top 25, whereas Florida State is winless. However Johnson has 6 1/2 tackles for loss to prime all Bowl Subdivision gamers and 4 1/2 sacks to tie for the FBS lead heading into the Seminoles’ sport Saturday at Wake Forest.
“He plays super hard,” Florida State defensive ends coach John Papuchis stated. “Anybody who’s watched him play over these last couple of games has seen the effort and energy he brings.”
That vitality was significantly evident when Florida State opened the season with a 41-38 overtime loss to Notre Dame, which was ranked ninth on the time. Johnson had seven tackles, 2 1/2 tackles for loss and 1 1/2 sacks.
“I just play the play that’s going on and then the next play after that and the next play after that,” Johnson stated after that sport. “Situational football. I came here to try to be what I can, be available for the team.”
He adopted that up by accumulating 11 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and three sacks towards Jacksonville State. No Atlantic Coast Convention participant had put up these varieties of numbers in every of these three classes in the identical sport since 2011.
SIZE & STATS
Florida State’s roster lists Johnson as 6-foot-5 and 262 kilos. He has 18 general tackles to associate with his 6 1/2 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks. He performed seven video games for Georgia final season and had 16 tackles and 5 sacks. Johnson collected 20 tackles and a couple of 1/2 sacks for Georgia in 2019.
BIGGEST MOMENT
Johnson’s efficiency towards Notre Dame helped him make a reputation for himself, however he began to catch the attention of Reese’s Senior Bowl government director and former NFL scout Jim Nagy a yr earlier in Georgia's 41-24 loss to eventual national champion Alabama. Johnson made an impression by accumulating 4 tackles and a sack in a sport stockpiled with NFL expertise.
“He played a significant amount of snaps in that game,” Nagy recalled. “Just the physicality he plays with at the point of attack stood out that night.”
SCOUT’S TAKE
“Last year at Georgia, being a spot player, he was more what scouts refer to as a flash guy,” Nagy stated. “He made plays in flashes and then he’d be off the field. Now he’s in a more prominent role. He’ll be playing a lot more snaps. It was good for him, having that first game against Notre Dame, on a nationally televised big stage, having all the eyes of America on him, and really showed up early in that game, being disruptive, making plays behind the line of scrimmage.”
Nagy doesn’t essentially see him as a pass-rush specialist and maybe more of a “runs-downs guy.”
“He’s really physical at the point of attack,“ Nagy said. ”He refuses to remain blocked. Even when he’s getting engaged, he’s only a combative man, so he fights off blocks and chases.”
DRAFT WATCH
He presently suits in as a probable mid-round decide, although this season may assist Johnson elevate his draft inventory due to the extra alternatives he'll get. Earlier than the season, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked draft-eligible prospects by position and had Johnson tied for 10th among defensive ends.
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