GWU's Johnston Impresses Scouts With Successful California Workout
March 10, 2008 | Football
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Gardner-Webb product Brian Johnston, a
rising prospect for this April's NFL Draft, wowed scouts at his
first workout Saturday in his hometown of San Diego.
Working out at San Diego State University on March 8 for a handful
of NFL scouts, Johnston showed exactly why he is one of the top
defensive end prospects heading into April's annual draft –
and outperformed several prospects from larger schools in the
process.
Measuring in at 6-foot-5, 274 pounds, Johnston ran his first
40-yard dash in an eye-popping 4.66 seconds. His slowest time of
the day was a very strong 4.70, which is still faster than
Johnston's best time a year ago. Johnston's 40-yard dash time
Saturday would have been the fourth best at the recent NFL Scouting
Combine for defensive ends, and the best for any lineman weighing
more than 260 pounds.
Johnston's most impressive stat from the 40-yard dash came with a
very strong 1.51-second time through the first 10 yards, an
important time with regards to a players quickness. By comparison,
Johnston's 10-yard split was the same as Arkansas running back
Darren McFadden turned in at the Combine earlier this year.
Johnston pulled off an impressive 35-inch vertical leap as well on
Saturday, which would have ranked second among defensive linemen at
the NFL Scouting Combine – and best for a player of his
size.
The most impressive result overall, however, may have been
Johnston's time in the 20-yard shuttle. He turned in a 4.18-second
time, which is better than any lineman at the NFL's Scouting
Combine. In fact, the 4.18-second time was faster than any running
back at the event – with Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall the only
back to match that time.
A 6.96-second time in the 3-cone, or "L" drill was also impressive,
and would rank third compared to times recorded by lineman at the
Combine.
"I felt really good after the workout," Johnston said. "The few
scouts who stayed behind [after San Diego State's players finished]
said that it was the best workout of the day, by far, and they were
impressed. My agent [Baltimore-based Tony Agnone] told me Sunday
that nearly every team in the NFL had called him after getting
those results. That's encouraging for me."
Johnston has been working hard with California-based trainer Todd
Durkin, one of the most renowned speed and strength experts in the
nation - and a man who has a client list that includes LaDanian
Tomlinson, Reggie Bush, Carson Palmer and several other notable NFL
and Major League Baseball stars.
According to Johnston, the extra effort in training has paid off so
far.
"We've worked hard since January," Johnston added. "It's really
nice to see some results come out of this workout [Saturday]. I'm
excited about playing football at the next level and proving that a
guy from a small school like Gardner-Webb can make an impact."
The hard work has caused teams to take serious notice. Johnston
says he has formal visits set up with at least six NFL teams in
April, prior to the draft. He is scheduled to work out once more
for NFL scouts, with that coming on March 25 in Winston-Salem,
N.C.
Johnston was a consensus Division I FCS All-America selection as a
senior at Gardner-Webb in 2007, after totaling 74 tackles, 29
tackles for loss, six sacks, 22 quarterback pressures and 11
quarterback knockdowns. He finished with 268 career stops, 63
career tackles for loss, 21 sacks and 69 pressures.
The San Diego, Calif., native was the Big South Conference
Defensive Player of the Year twice (2006, 2007). He started and
starred in the Hula Bowl following his senior year, totaling four
tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble for the victorious East
squad.
