George Johnson Preparing for the Draft

The football season may be over, but for former Rutgers defensive end George Johnson, a new season has already begun. Johnson is now spending his days at TEST Sports in Martinsville, N.J. preparing for a future in the NFL. The training has suddenly changed and has now become more urgent than ever.

“I really love it,” Johnson said of the new training. “You learn a lot of techniques that you don’t really learn in college. The techniques make you feel like you’re doing things a lot different and a lot more fluent instead of just playing with natural ability. I’m making huge strides right now with technique that they’re teaching us and the atmosphere I’m around. I’m getting a lot better.”

Johnson is busy preparing for all the combine drills he will be tested on during the Rutgers Pro Day which will take place sometime in mid to late March. There, Johnson will be judged on his times in events such as the forty-yard dash and the three-cone drill instead of quarterback sacks and tackles for losses.

Before Johnson’s Pro Day arrives, he will have one more opportunity to put on the pads when he takes part in the 4th annual Texas vs. the Nation All-Star game in El Paso, Texas on February 6th.

“I’m real excited about that,” said Johnson. “Now, I’m not just playing with my teammates. I’m not going out with the scarlet and white. I’m actually going on the field with different colors and playing with people from around the nation. It’s a special thing for me.”

Johnson has yet to receive an invitation to the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis where he would most likely test out exceptionally well. The NFL will send out some late invitations to the Combine, so there is still hope for Johnson.

“I’m still waiting for a word on that but if I don’t hear from them, I still have my Pro Day to show them what I’m really about,” said Johnson.

A former high school basketball star, Johnson’s athleticism could enable him to flourish in each separate combine event. And it is that athleticism that could help also his chances in the draft as Johnson is versatile enough to play multiple positions.

“George is a tremendous athlete with the versatility to play Defensive End or Linebacker,” said TEST owner and head trainer Brian Martin. “The NFL loves hybrid guys who can rush the quarterback and cover as well.”

This new season has also forced Johnson to sign with an agent now that he is looking to make a living in the NFL. All of the sudden, Johnson has found himself in some pretty good company. He opted to sign with Brian Levy of Goal Line, an agency that also represents over thirty current NFL players and coaches, including head coaches Mike Tomlin and Raheem Morris.

“It’s working out real good,” said Johnson. ” Brian’s a real special guy and I put my life in his hands. Since I signed, everything has been real good for me. I feel so happy about my decision because it’s going to put me in a good position further down in the future.”

Things have changed in a hurry for Johnson as college has quickly become a thing of the past and the NFL is now just within his grasp.

“It feels real weird because I’m not part of that team any more. I’m not a Rutgers football player anymore. I’m a Rutgers alumni.”

Popularity: 1% [?]