Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft profile: RB, Kerryon Johnson

One of our last stops on the Pewter Plank 2018 prospect tour is an underrated running back from the University of Auburn, Kerryon Johnson.

In a running back class as loaded with big names as this year’s is, it’s easy to forget about Kerryon Johnson. After getting familiar with Saquon Barkley, Derrius Guice, Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, Ronald Jones, and Rashaad Penny, one could be forgiven if they didn’t feel like watching more running backs. However, I suggest devoting one more Saturday afternoon or bored moment at work getting to know Kerryon Johnson, who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could look at as a late-round option.

There are certainly better runners and better pass-catchers at the running back position in this draft, but few offer the three-down package that Johnson does. Let’s take a closer look at what specifically Johnson does and does not bring to the table, after a brief run-down of his collegiate career.

Johnson’s College Career

In three seasons, nineteen starts, and 519 attempts, Kerryon Johnson totaled 2494 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns as an Auburn Tiger, to the tune of an impressive 4.8 yard-per-carry average. From a receiving standpoint, Johnson accumulated 55 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns.

As expected for a true freshman, Johnson’s college years began slowly – he rushed just 52 times for 208 yards and three touchdowns, though he did manage to score a touchdown in the team’s bowl game.

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Johnson began to show what he was capable of as a sophomore, when he started six games and totaled 895 yards rushing and eleven touchdowns. Johnson had three games with 90 yards and three more games with 100 yards rushing, including a 146 yard explosion against Louisiana-Monroe. Though his numbers at seasons’ end were unremarkable, it had become clear that Johnson was a player to watch heading into 2017.

Hype and expectations can be crushing for young athletes, but not for Kerryon Johnson. After earning the starting role from head coach Gus Malzahn, Johnson responded by racking up 1391 yards, 18 touchdowns, and a mean 4.9 yard-per-carry average. On top of that he notched career-highs in receiving yards with 194, receiving touchdowns with three, and receptions with 24. The break-out campaign resulted in SEC Player of the Year honors and got Johnson named first team All-SEC.

Pros

Kerryon Johnson is a three tool running back who is ready to step in and contribute from day one in the NFL. His first tool is obvious – running the football. Johnson isn’t fast or particularly powerful compared to some of his fellow running back prospects, but makes up for it with superb vision, toughness, and excellent start-stop ability. Similar to an Arian Foster or Le’Veon Bell, Johnson can change speeds on a whim and leave defenders guessing as to when he’s going to burst up-field.

Johnson’s second tool is his receiving ability. Though his catching stats were meager in college, Johnson showed at the combine that he can run a few routes out of the back-field and smoothly catch passes – I didn’t see a single drop during the session. A true three-down back must have this ability to make plays in the receiving game, but they also have to block.

That leads us to Johnson’s third tool: keeping his quarterback upright. Johnson is a proven, capable pass-blocker which, according to Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter, is a paramount necessity for any rookie running back trying to get playing time. Johnson’s game tapes are filled with well-timed blitz pick-ups that helped give his quarterback that extra millisecond that he needed to throw.

Kerryon even offers a bonus fourth tool, as a kick returner; in three seasons with the Tigers he returned a total of 26 kicks. The Bucs may choose to look elsewhere for a returner, but they’ll surely appreciate the fact that Johnson can do it if called upon.

Cons

Johnson has a frame and rugged running style that lends itself to getting hurt. Running back is the position most prone to injury, so this is a legitimate concern. Johnson has had numerous injuries and surgeries dating back to high school, including ankle, hand, and several shoulder mishaps. The hits won’t get softer at the next-level, so Johnson needs to find a way to alter his approach and preserve his body. Can he do that while still maintaining his high level of play?

Lending more to the injury concerns is the fact that Johnson often has to compensate for his average speed/quickness by bulling into defenders. While his tenacity is certainly admirable, it’s a bit of a concern that he has to fight so desperately at times for yards (I have similar concerns about USC’s Ronald Jones). There are also some concerns that Johnson may perhaps be a product of his coaches’ dominant offensive scheme.

Why The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Need Kerryon Johnson

The Bucs need a three-down back. It’s as simple as that. Dirk Koetter’s offense simply does not work without a capable running back as we’ve seen with the highs and lows of Doug Martin. In 2015 behind Martin’s 1400 yards the Bucs had a deadly offense despite having a rookie Jameis Winston, but Martin’s struggles in 2016 and 2017 went a long way towards dragging down the entire offense.

With Johnson the Bucs would not only get a player able to grind out tough yards in the redzone and short-yardage situations, but also someone who can pick up blitzers and give Jameis Winston time for Koetter’s long-developing receiver routes to play out downfield. The Buc offense is predicated on big plays downfield, so having a capable pass blocker at running back is extremely important.

Will It Happen?

I would set the odds at “decent”. If the Buccaneers select a back with their first two picks then the odds obviously move to “none”, but Johnson should be a prime target if the Bucs choose to wait. Thanks to the depth of this running back class Johnson has been majorly slept on, so there’s a chance that he’s available when the Bucs pick in the fourth round – there have certainly been more talented backs than Johnson to go that late in the draft.

Next: Buccaneer player profile: Running back, Kerryon Johnson

What do you think about Kerryon Johnson, Buccaneers fans? Would you like to see the Bucs wait till later in the draft to take him, or are you scared off by his injury history? Sound off in the comments and be sure to stick with the Plank for our final three prospect previews as we lead up to next Thursday’s draft.