FSU OL Roderick Johnson declares for the NFL Draft
Roderick Johnson, the venerable left tackle whose 32 consecutive starts provided stability on the offensive line, announced Tuesday he was leaving Florida State and declaring for the NFL Draft.
Johnson becomes the second FSU underclassmen to forgo his senior. Star junior tailback Dalvin Cook announced Dec. 31 he would also leave FSU, a day after the team's 33-32 win over Michigan in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
“After dedicating time to prayer and talking with my family, I have decided it is in my best interest to declare for the 2017 NFL Draft,” Johnson said in a statement released through the university. “I look forward to the challenges ahead and am excited about the opportunity to play at the next level.”
His future became one of the bigger questions facing the Seminoles going into the offseason. Sports Illustrated rated Johnson as the No. 4 offensive tackle prospect while Walter Football had him at No. 11. A source confirmed with Warchant that Johnson received a third-round grade from the draft advisory board.
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Johnson was gradually asked about returning for a fourth senior leading up to the Orange Bowl. He said days prior to the Orange Bowl, he would make a decision. An hour after the game ended, he was approached by teammates and others who told him, "we'll miss you next year."
At the time, he told reporters he hadn't made a decision about his future. Johnson told Warchant that he and his father spoke frequently over the last year about whether to stay for one more season or leave for the NFL.
The 6-foot-7 and 311-pound Johnson was a four-star prospect who burst onto the scene as a true freshman. He started in the final five games of the 2014 season with the Seminoles reaching the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Johnson started all 13 games in 2015. He was the team's most reliable lineman as FSU shuffled through several staring combinations. At the end of the year, Johnson would win the ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy which is given to the conference's best blocker.
His junior year was a mixed. Both Johnson and FSU struggled early by getting out to a 3-2 start. Redshirt freshman quarterback Deondre Francois faced constant pressure and was on pace to sacked more than 40 times.
Francois was sacked 34 times but the offensive line only allowed seven sacks in their final four regular season games. That included giving up no sacks to Florida, which finished the season fifth in total defense.
Johnson, who started all 13 games in 2016, and the line did enough for Francois to find some comfort and create running lanes for Cook. The Seminoles would finish 25th in total offense and Johnson would win his second straight Jacobs Blocking trophy.
"My faith in Christ has kept me grounded with an open mind to seek and accept sound advice and guidance. Much of which, I received as a student-athlete at Florida State from Coach Fisher, Coach Trickett and Coach [Tim] Brewster, who I wholeheartedly thank for their coaching and support," Johnson said. "I also want to thank the football support staff and academics staff. You have been my family away from home and I can’t thank you enough for both challenging me and providing the resources I needed to be successful.
"As the next step in my career begins and I continue to mature, I will have you all to thank for giving me a solid foundation in my path to succeed."
If Johnson would have stayed, he'd have been an experienced figure on a line expected to see some changes. Instead, both Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher and offensive line coach Rick Trickett will be busy this offseason reconfiguring a few positions.
FSU will have several options with 18 scholarship lineman on next year's roster.
Potential left tackle candidates include redshirt freshman Abdul Bello, sophomore Ethan Frith and true freshmen Mike Arnold, Josh Ball and Jauan Williams. FSU also loses redshirt senior left guard Kareem Are, who started nine games this year including the season finale against Michigan. It's believed he could be replaced by redshirt freshman Cole Minshew, who can play either guard positions.
Redshirt sophomore center Alec Eberle does return. Eberle, despite starting 13 games in 2016, was inconsistent at times and could face competition from true freshman Andrew Boselli or redshirt sophomore Corey Martinez.
Landon Dickerson is expected to start at right guard. He earned a starting role in Week 2 and was a long-term solution going forward until sustaining a season-ending knee injury prior to FSU's Week 9 game against North Carolina State. If Johnson were to suffer a setback in his rehab, the Seminoles still have redshirt junior Wilson Bell, who was a part-time starter in 2016.
Both Fisher and Trickett have been high on junior Rick Leonard at right guard. The former defensive end added 30 pounds last offseason and made six starts in 2016. He started the first three games and lost his job due to inconsistent play. Leonard won the job back later in the season.
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