What Indianapolis Colts fans should know about Eric Johnson, a 2022 NFL Draft pick
Eric Johnson became the first player out of Missouri State selected in the NFL Draft since 2011 when the Indianapolis Colts took him in the fifth round with the 159th overall pick.
Johnson is a 6-foot-5, 299-pound defensive lineman who burst onto the scene with standout performances during his senior year and a pair of prestigious collegiate all-star games.
As an FCS standout, Johnson might be a bit of an unknown to those who are learning his name for the first time.
Here's what you need to know about the new NFL defensive lineman:
More: NFL Draft: Why Bobby Petrino believes Missouri State's Eric Johnson should be selected
Johnson broke out during senior seasons
At Missouri State, Johnson had two senior seasons that were brought on by COVID-19 — with the majority of one being held in the spring and the other taking place in its normal spot in the fall.
Before those seasons, Johnson was a mainstay on the Bears' defensive line when the unit hadn't had much success. With a new coaching staff before his senior year, the Bears went from one of the worst FCS defenses in the country to one of the best.
Under head coach Bobby Petrino's coaching staff, Johnson began to take in everything defensive line coach L.D. Scott preached. Johnson saw his performance improve while becoming one of the more feared linemen in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
"Once the success started going up, the realization hit me," Johnson said. "I can actually keep doing this."
Johnson played in 55 games as a five-year starter and was recognized as an All-MVFC second-teamer the last two seasons. He had 131 total stops, including 19.5 for a loss and 6.5 sacks.
In the spring, Johnson started 10 games and earned second-team All-MVFC honors with 27 total tackles, six for a loss and 1.5 sacks. At 6-foot-5, 299-pounds, he was a menace against the run.
Johnson followed in the fall with an even better season with 1.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss. He had 43 total tackles and blocked three kicks.
He established himself as a draft selection during college all-star games
His play in 2021 landed him a spot in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Pasadena, California. The all-star game is considered a step down from the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, but it's one that consistently sends players to the league.
In practice, Johnson stood out while being recognized by multiple analysts covering the event as one of the best defensive linemen in attendance.
During the game, with a Missouri State helmet on, Johnson exploded up the middle from his defensive tackle position en route to the quarterback for a sack.
When the week was over, Johnson hopped on a plane from Los Angeles to Chicago. As he sat down, his phone rang with his agent on the other side.
His agent told him to get off the plane and that scouts from the Senior Bowl requested his presence in Mobile. He needed to hop on a different bird and fly to Alabama.
In Mobile, Johnson played alongside some of the best players in the country. Fellow defensive linemen like Georgia's Devonte Wyatt, Minnesota's Boye Mafe and Florida State's Jermaine Johnson II were among the top names of the week and there was Johnson playing right there with them.
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay noticed Johnson's work while noting him as one of the more fun small-school players on the field throughout the week.
"Missouri State defensive lineman Eric Johnson was overpowering all week long," McShay wrote. "I have to go back to tape on him, but he could be a great 5-technique in a 3-4 scheme."
Johnson met with numerous NFL teams in the pre-draft process
Johnson met with numerous teams during the predraft process including:
New Orleans Saints
Detroit Lions
Los Angeles Chargers
Indianapolis Colts
Green Bay Packers
Cincinnati Bengals
Chicago Bears
Johnson helped Bobby Petrino turn Missouri State football into a winner
One thing Johnson couldn't call himself until his senior year was a winner but he helped Petrino pull off one of the more remarkable turnarounds in FCS history when the Bears went from a 1-10 program to two-straight postseason appearances during his first two years as head coach.
Johnson was one of the leaders on the team and one of the oldest players who stuck around in the program. Those two playoff appearances were the program's first since 1990.
Johnson said one of the best parts of the predraft process was when players had their helmets off and sat them on the ground. He looked over and saw the Missouri State logo sitting among those from some of the biggest programs in the nation.
"We went through a lot, as defensive linemen, in those six years," Johnson said. "We had a lot of ups and downs. I felt like I was showing what that group could do."
Scouts have praised his explosiveness off the ball
The Athletic called Johnson the highest-graded non-combine prospect in this year's draft. He's the 13th-ranked defensive linemen according to the website and has a fifth-round grade.
"Overall, Johnson needs to develop more consistent pad level and run recognition for the next level, but he flashes phonebooth explosiveness, functional hand use and play range," The Athletic wrote. "He should appeal to multiple schemes and is ideally suited as a five-technique or quick-penetrating three-technique."
Using Scouts Inc.'s 2022 draft rankings, ESPN has Johnson as the 154th overall player in the draft while praising his ability against the run and toughness and motor. That's good enough to be the 11th-best defensive tackle.
ESPN senior writer Jeff Legwold recently wrote that Johnson was the "no-combine outlier." Legwold also wrote about Johnson's performances at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and Senior Bowl where his name caught a lot of attention. He wrote how he's impressed with Johnson's durability after playing 48 career games including starts in the final 42 games of his college career.
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein projects Johnson as a sixth-round pick while noting his build, strength and length to play multiple positions along the line.
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or Twitter at @WyattWheeler_NL. He's also the co-host of Sports Talk on Jock Radio weekdays from 4-6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: What Indianapolis Colts fans need to know about Eric Johnson
