Texas A&M DB Antonio Johnson Ready To Light Up NFL Combine With Versatility

Known for his do-it-all playmaking skills, Antonio Johnson will put that on display come Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

INDIANAPOLIS - Antonio Johnson doesn't want to hear it. He knows what the college tape will say, but there's more than meets the eye. 

"I have reps everywhere," Johnson said Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "I know that I mostly played nickel corner, but I also have reps at either safety spot. I'd feel [just as] comfortable playing there." 

Johnson isn't just a nickel cornerback. While the Texas A&M defender likely could have been considered "positionless" during his time in College Station, he mainly started out playing inside as a freshman to get reps. 

After finding success at the position, the rest was history, even if Johnson knew he could make an impact elsewhere on the field. 

Johnson hopes to prove he's the top playmaker in this year's class. Yes, playmaker. Not a nickel defender. Not safety. Playmaker. And there are plenty of highlights from the past three seasons that would give him the confidence to say "bonafide No. 1 playmaker at your service" when meeting with scouts and general managers. 

"I can go with the best of them," Johnson said. "Every one of those plays just shows the type of player I can be. Versatile." 

There's the word fans know in Aggieland; versatile. Stats would back that up, too. According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson took 280 snaps in the slot, 128 in the box, and 110 at deep safety last season. 

"You could put [Antonio] anywhere in that secondary and he's going to make plays, " cornerback Jaylon Jones said of Johnson. "That's my brother for life...when you talk about a guy on the field, that's Antonio Johnson." 

At 6-3, Johnson has the size to line up at free safety, but what about the speed?  Should the coverage skills be limited, shifting him over to the strong side wouldn't be far-fetched. 

Then again, as teams at the NFL level look to prioritize the tight end position on passing downs, staying near the line of scrimmage will be an ideal home for Johnson early on in his career. 

One player who began his college career in the nickel? All-Pro Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, a defender Johnson said he looks up to in terms of play style.

"Minkah plays a lot of positions and makes a lot of plays," Johnson said. "If you watch his college highlights and his games, I think that we compare very well." 

To say that Johnson will become a clone of Fitzpatrick wherever he lands would seem unrealistic. At least for the time being. But the tools could be enough to skyrocket his stock into first-round buzz following testing Friday afternoon. 

Considered the No. 2 safety in the class behind Alabama's Brian Branch, there's not of a difference between the two SEC defensive backs. 

Branch, who could land in the top 15, played primarily in the slot (569 reps) but also saw action as a box defender against the run. The two most significant separations between Johnson and Branch are ball production and missed tackles. 

Branch was credited with three missed tackles in 768 reps, per PFF, and totaled two interceptions last fall. Johnson was credited with 13 missed tackles in 582 snaps in 2022, and only recorded one pick in three years. 

“I feel like a lot of teams question my ball skills,” Johnson said. “My versatility, not having a set spot, that’s what puts me over the edge. I’m a long, tall safety. That’s what you need in the secondary. Someone you can keep on the field and not have to sub for packages.” 

How Johnson tests Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium will ultimately determine his landing spot. Several teams picking at the end of Round 1, including the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles, have conducted formal interviews with him throughout the week. 

Other franchises, such as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans, both of which select at the start of the second round, also had informal meetings.

While cool and calm at the podium, Johnson plays like a man on a mission. 

The end goal? 

Go toe-to-toe with the opponent and walk away victorious while making sure they remember his name. He's done that on more than one occasion since stepping foot in College Station. 

Teams will covet that type of mantra in the locker room. A soft-spoken person away from the field with the power to turn on the maniac mentality on it, Johnson has everything needed to become a breakout player at the next level. 

Even if his permanent home has yet to be determined. 

"I try to have fun on the field. It's contagious," Johnson said. "When you're having fun and making plays, it makes the guys around you want to have that same energy. Whenever I come on the field, it's just my job to have fun. 

"Whenever you get on the field, you just have to be you and be free. That's how I play the game."  

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