Name Larry Johnson
College Penn State
College Position RB
NFL Position RB may have to be in a one backset
Height 6-1
Weight 226
Positives-Larry Johnson is a power back that can break most arm tackles. He also gains power as the game goes on, which shows he has good stamina. He is also a very solid receiver; evident by him having 39 catches this year. He also seems to have good vision. One last positive with Johnson is he has not had any major injures.
Negatives-The main concern with him is he lacks great speed. He does not hit the hole very quickly, and will time in 4.55 range in the 40-yard dash. He also is not a great blocker. He had an excellent year this year, but before this year he was putting up very average stats. The last concern I have with him is he is somewhat arrogant.
What others are saying-Mel Kiper collected by draftbook.com
11-18-02 My GameDay co-host, Dave Revsine, told me he heard Penn State running back Larry Johnson talk in a press conference about how I had him rated as a mid-round draft pick and how that motivated him. Against Wisconsin on Saturday, he ran wild, rushing for 327 yards and four scores. At the beginning of the season, I had Johnson rated as either a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent. But he has been climbing ever since. Now I have him rated as a second-round prospect who is still on the rise. Among senior running backs, Johnson is pushing Virginia Tech's Lee Suggs as the No. 1 back. But if other draft-eligible players were added to the mix, he would be somewhere behind third-year sophomore Willis McGahee and two juniors, Oregon's Onterrio Smith and Colorado's Chris Brown.At 6-1 and 223 pounds, Johnson has an Eddie George-like running style. While he lacks elusiveness and is a bit upright, he runs hard, shows quickness and has breakaway ability. On Saturday, he outraced the Indiana defensive backs to paydirt. He can also block and catch the ball out of the backfield. Last year the Nittany Lions' running game was nonexistent, and Johnson gained only 358 yards. In my preview back in August, I said Johnson needed 1,200 yards or more for Penn State's offense to succeed. Now, Johnson has 1,736 yards. With a huge day against Michigan State in Happy Valley on Saturday, he will be pushing 2,000 yards. That's an amazing turnaround, one that has given QB Zach Mills and the passing offense the kind of balance the Lions' offense has needed. You have to love Johnson and the fact he's determined to be a high draft choice. If he keeps playing the same way, turns in great all-star game performances and has a strong individual workout, Johnson could be a first- or second-round pick on draft day in April.
Overall-Johnson is a power back that ran a lot of one back set at Penn State. He lacks the great explosiveness to the hole, and also has some personality questions. He will be a solid back if he finds the right NFL team.
