Scouting the 2020 NFL Draft: Collin Johnson, WR, Texas

Collin Johnson will be back for one final year at Texas. He will hope to stay healthy in his senior year to help his standing in a loaded receiver class.

Collin Johnson would have had a good shot at being one of the first receivers off the board had he declared for the 2019 draft, but opted to stick around for one more year at Texas, a decision perhaps motivated by the injury that hindered his 2018 campaign.

Johnson had arthroscopic surgery in the offseason after battling through a mid-season knee injury that did not prevent him from posting the best numbers of his career.

The 6’6″ and 220-pound wide receiver finished with 68 catches for 985 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. Even more impressive than that production, however, was how Johnson was able to create separation through the use of his change-of-direction ability in spite of his knee issue.

Johnson boasts outstanding quickness for a receiver of his size. He uses a variety of releases at the top of the route and has consistently excelled at creating leverage against off coverage by threatening downfield routes to get defenders on their heels.

His varied approach to his route running is often necessary because Johnson cannot create separation with his speed.

Separation is not always needed for Johnson to succeed, however. His size gives him a natural advantage at the catch point, and he has the hands to make it count. Johnson tracks the ball exceptionally well, shows late hands to limit opposing defenders’ opportunities to break up passes, and does an excellent job of adjusting to inaccurate throws.

Consistency is the issue in terms of Johnson’s play at the catch point. Defenders have accessed his frame and forced incompletions too regularly on jump balls, preventing Johnson from potentially having double-digit touchdowns last season.

Johnson has not as yet been able to replicate the quickness he demonstrates as a route runner with the ball in his hands, limiting his upside after the catch.

Between his size, route-running skills, and hands, Johnson has a varied and intriguing skill set that should allow him to put up even bigger numbers in the Big 12 in 2019.

However, in a wide receiver class that is expected by many to be historically good, there is a danger Johnson could get lost in the shuffle. He has the skill set to be a productive boundary receiver at the next level and could end up being a steal if he goes later in the draft than he likely would have in 2019. For all the talent Johnson has, it will take an extraordinary senior year for him to be considered one of the best on the board in 2020.