Leonard provides hope

INDIANAPOLIS — Defensive lineman Darryl Johnson sees hope for smallschool players all around the NFL.

One of his former teammates at North Carolina A&T, running back Tarik Cohen, plays for the Chicago Bears. Another ex-college teammate, offensive lineman Brandon Parker, landed with the Oakland Raiders. Cornerback Tony McRae, a third A&T alum, is with the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard, another Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference alum, is the league’s newest defensive rookie of the year.

Johnson knows the names, stories and backgrounds and it’s convinced him that he can be the next guy on the list.

“He’s a guy from an HBCU (Historically Black College and University), who put in a lot of hard work and that’s what I do,” Johnson said Saturday when asked about Leonard. “He’s a relentless effort guy and I’m the same way.”

Making it to the NFL’s annual scouting combine in Indianapolis could help pro scouts determine if they see the same similarities.

While Johnson is not the biggest name in a crowded class of talented pass-rushing ends and fast linebackers and he’s not one of the enormous run stuffers, he certainly presents an intriguing profile.

At 6-foot-6, 253 pounds, Johnson is long and lean, like Leonard.

Johnson recorded 161⁄2 sacks over the past two seasons, earning first-team all-conference honors both years and last year’s MEAC defensive player of the year award — which Leonard took in 2016 and 2017.

Like Leonard, Johnson relies on speed to play sideline to sideline and, like Leonard, Johnson describes himself an underdog with something to prove.

“Coming from a HBCU, coming out early, I feel like I’m making a statement for all the HBCUs so they won’t sleep on black college football,” said Johnson, a redshirt junior who gave up his final year of eligibility to enter the draft. “A lot of legends played back college football.”

Where exactly Johnson fits into this year’s draft is still to be determined.