Carlton Johnson didn’t need long to realize he could be a professional athlete.
Johnson started playing football at 4 years old. And he knew he could make a career out of the sport at only 7.
“Playing youth football, I had some traits that other kids didn’t have and I had some people let me know that I do have some talent,” Johnson said. “Just taking it with a grain of salt, I put it in my head that this might be a possibility.”
He eventually played football at multiple Division I programs, ending his collegiate career at Fresno State. Now after an NFL Combine invite and an impressive Pro Day, Johnson might hear his name called during the NFL Draft.
Carlton Johnson Draft Projection
I project Johnson will be selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Teams like the Rams or the Bengals would make sense.
Johnson has a history of injuries and has only played in 20 games at the FBS level. But his 40 time should indicate he has the skills to compete at the next level.
“The process has been pretty straightforward,” Johnson said of the NFL Combine. “Something I’ve always looked forward to. I’ve just been taking it day by day. I’ve just got to accept what comes with it.”
What Was Carlton Johnson’s 40 Time?
Johnson ran the 40-yard dash at Fresno State’s Pro Day in an unofficial time of 4.28 seconds. That would’ve tied for second among all position groups at the NFL Combine.
Johnson is clearly one of the fastest prospects in this year’s draft class. He had the fastest recorded speed at the Senior Bowl this season and the second-fastest speed ever there at over 22 miles per hour.
Johnson didn’t participate in drills at the combine due to a hamstring injury, though. When asked what sets him apart from other cornerbacks in this class, Johnson’s answer was simple.
“My speed,” he said. “My tenacity.”
Carlton Johnson’s Stats And Highlights
Johnson began his collegiate career at Southern Utah and played at a high level quickly.
He played in four games as a true freshman in 2018, and then was a third-team All-Big Sky selection after leading his team with three interceptions to go with 32 tackles in 2019.
He then went to Riverside City College in California. In 2021, he tallied 45 tickles, two picks, 11 pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.
Due to an injury, he played in just seven games at Fresno State in 2022. He recorded 28 tackles, six tackles for loss, six pass breakups, an interception, and a sack for the year.
And this past season was by far his best. He was on the All-Mountain West second team after playing in 13 games and starting 12. He racked up 54 tackles, four interceptions, seven pass breakups, and a tackle for loss. His four picks ranked 19th in the country, and his 11 passes defended was fourth in the Mountain West. He tied Fresno State’s and the Mountain West’s single-game record when he picked off three passes against Arizona State, and all three were passes from different quarterbacks.
“They prepared me from Day 1 that I stepped on that campus,” Johnson said of Fresno State. “The coaching staff up there also has an NFL pedigree. They’ve been around and have been in the business so they’ve been preparing us just by the way they walk, by the way they talk.”
Carlton Johnson’s NFL Comparison And Draft Profile
My NFL comparison for Johnson is Tariq Woolen of the Seattle Seahawks. Woolen is a bit taller, but both played for G5 schools, as Woolen came from UTSA, and both are exceptionally fast. Woolen ran the 40-yard dash in 4.26 seconds.
Johnson uses that speed to his advantage. He can close in on passes in an instant and either knock the ball away or pick it off.
Johnson is tough to outrun in the open field. And he’s not afraid to tackle, as he often lowered his pads and embraced physicality at the point of attack to bring opponents down.
Johnson also seems confident and comfortable when the ball is in the air. No doubt about it, he hunts for the ball at every opportunity.
Johnson’s size might be a concern, but he has some abilities which would surely help an NFL team.
“It’s been a long grind,” Johnson said, “but it’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid, so I’m grateful.”
