Lane Johnson is making NFL scouts sit up and take notice at the Senior Bowl practices leading up to the all-star game Saturday.
*Reportedly, the Chicago Bears may have designs drafting him at their 20th slot in April’s draft.
*SI.com’s Chris Burke has Johnson listed as the 38th best prospect in this year’s class, the only Sooner on his list.
*A couple of analysts for CBSSports.com have him going in the first round (one to Chicago at 20 and another to the Rams at No 16).
Pretty good for a guy who was unheralded at OU with no major conference or national honors. (CBSsports.com recognized him on its third team and he was voted to the all-Big 12 second team.)
Johnson didn’t receive a rating from the Rivals recruiting service coming out of high school in 2008. Then, Lane was listed at 6’6” and 202 pounds by Rivals. He spent one year as quarterback at Kilgore College before signing with the Sooners as a tight end in 2009.
He has grown an inch and put on 100 pounds since leaving high school. OU’s coaches gave him a brief look at defensive end before moving him to the o-line. Johnson started at right tackle in 12 of 13 games in 2011 and started 11 of 13 at left tackle in 2012.
His Senior Bowl assessment during practice: “…has shown the length and ability to play both LT and RT. He has been very secure in his lateral movements and has shown the knee bend to hold his ground when being bull rushed. He is a certain 2nd round pick and may be emerging as a 1st round possibility.”
Johnson will get to block for his teammate Landry Jones one more time Saturday, unless both make it on to the same NFL squad.