April is the month of the NFL draft and the start of many careers will begin that night. For the last few months these athletes have been through rigorous training and media practice, one athlete who is ready for the big stage is Antonio Johnson. Johnson appeared in seven games for A&M as a true freshman in 2020 he racked up 14 tackles, and one pass breakup. The former four-star from East St. Louis, Illinois, started all 12 games in 2021, receiving the team’s Defensive Playmaker Award, with 79 tackles, 8.5 for loss with one sack, one interception, five pass breakups. In Johnson’s junior year he missed three games with an injury but still managed to push through adversity to be named first-team All-SEC after leading the team with three forced fumbles in nine starts. Also, he accomplished 71 tackles, five for loss, and one pass breakup.

The hard work Johnson has put in was recently showcased at the NFL combine in early March. During the combine testing, Johnson clocked in at 4.52 in 40-yard dash with a 1.57 ten second split, as he showed speed, he also showed his fluid hips, quick feet, and tracking the ball skills during the combine drills. After Johnson’s highly anticipated pro day workout he wanted to leave the reporters, scouts, and coaches with a message by saying “Me being versatile and being able to make plays all around the field, in the box, in the passing game, it just makes me, me.”  In a recent conversation with Johnson, we got to take some time and talk about the preparation leading up to the NFL combine and his pro day workout, Johnson expressed that “The preparation for the combine feels like a longer version of fall camp, with multiple workouts a day along with media training, and meeting preparation.”

While Johnson showed out at the combine and put business first, he expressed all the emotions he had to keep inside by saying “It felt like a dream come true, I was very nervous but extremely excited to be on the big stage and show what I have been working for.” In separate conversations, it is clear that individuals who have a close relationship with Johnson know all the hard work he has put in over the years will pay off on April 27th with a chance to get a life changing call from one NFL coach.