The Philadelphia Eagles added dimension to their receiving corps by deciding on Johnny Wilson within the 2024 NFL Draft. With a view to be taught much more about Philly’s new go catcher, I reached out to SB Nation’s Florida State weblog: Tomahawk Nation. Seminoles author Jordan Silversmith was variety sufficient to reply my questions.
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1) Are you able to recap his school profession?
Johnny Wilson didn’t begin at Florida State and took a novel path to turning into an NFL Draft Choose. He started his profession at Arizona State, the place the teaching workers couldn’t use him correctly. He completed his time in Tempe with simply 16 receptions, and after two years, he hit the portal and went east to hitch the now-heralded class with Trey Benson and Jared Verse.
When he got here to Tallahassee, he immediately turned a prime goal for the offense. His huge body endeared him to Mike Norvell’s offense as he might run block and make large performs down the sphere. The 6’7’’ behemoth completed the 2022 season, averaging over 20 yards per reception in eight of the 13 video games he performed in.
His greatest efficiency got here in simply the third sport of the season; Wilson racked up 149 yards and two touchdowns as he carried the group to victory after Jordan Travis got here out injured within the first half.
A 12 months later, Wilson got here into spring camp because the clear #1 WR, however his position shrank when Keon Coleman joined the group from the switch portal in the summertime. With so many mouths to feed, Wilson’s manufacturing pulled again, as he solely completed with six or extra catches twice, half as many occasions as in 2022. His manufacturing additionally took a success as he missed two video games as a consequence of damage, after which the offense nose-dived when Jordan Travis’s season resulted in week 11.
Even nonetheless, his huge play skill made him a continuing risk on the surface, as he went over 80 yards in 4 of the ten video games he performed. When Travis did go down, he turned the security blanket for Tate Rodemaker and Brock Glenn, as they might look to him on third down and massive moments. Followers will keep in mind him as one of many nice portal tales for Mike Norvell and helped revamp an offense that direly wanted a facelift after Mike Norvell’s second season.
2) What are his strengths?
Starting with the plain, guarding a 6’7’’ receiver who runs a 4.57 felt unimaginable at occasions for opposing defenses. FSU would consistently throw again shoulder fades to him once they wanted a bit performs down the sphere, and he used his body to field out corners and play above the rim. As talked about, FSU took loads of pictures down the sphere as a consequence of Wilson’s skill to make contested catches and win on deep routes.
He utilized his dimension as a run blocker and have become an underrated piece to the Seminole floor sport. PFF graded him as a 75.8 and 73.9 run blocker in 2022 and 2023, respectively. In each sport final season, he performed double-digit run snaps, which speaks to his character and willingness to place the group first.
Whereas I can’t quantify this, he developed nice chemistry with all of the quarterbacks on the roster, and in huge moments, the ball would typically go his manner. He carried out his greatest when Tate Rodemaker began towards Florida final 12 months and helped FSU dig out of a 12-0 gap to come back again and win within the swamp. He completed with six catches and 64 yards; half got here on third down. It helped that he performed within the system for an additional 12 months over Coleman, however he would typically be the primary learn on third down.
3) What are his weaknesses?
Whereas Wilson could make the unimaginable look simple and make it look like his catch radius spans a mile lengthy, he additionally makes the simple look troublesome. Early within the season, he had a brutal case of the drops that nearly returned to chunk FSU a number of occasions. Wilson would consistently be on the jugs machine attempting to get it proper however by no means fairly bought it underneath management. Moreover the drops, he will be stiff on the prime of his route and infrequently must win along with his dimension. Groups had been involved that he was a tweener, making some franchises really feel he can be a decent finish on the subsequent stage.
4) Are you shocked the place he was drafted? Increased or decrease than anticipated? Excellent?
Possibly I drank an excessive amount of FSU Kool-Assist, however Wilson falling to the sixth spherical shocked me. He will be such a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, and his manufacturing in school speaks for itself. He gave the impression of his camp thought he can be taken across the fourth spherical however close to the 100-pick mark. As I mentioned, groups should have been anxious about his place on the subsequent stage and his skill to win on the surface consistently.
5) How do you see his NFL profession taking part in out?
Predicting the place sixth-round picks end out their profession is a crap shoot. It feels much more sophisticated for Wilson as he enters a group with two Professional Bowl WRs. Nonetheless, his distinctive body provides him a a lot greater likelihood to stay on the NFL stage. Anyone that stands 6’7’’ typically finds themselves with a number of alternatives, and he matches the invoice. Furthermore, the strenuous low season conditioning Florida State battles by way of ought to put together Wilson for the wear and tear and tear on the NFL stage. He’ll know tips on how to compete and take robust teaching as Mike Norvell prides his program on these particulars. Who is aware of whether or not or not he ever turns into a 1,000-yard receiver? However, he can carve out a job for himself as a red-zone, run-blocking risk.
6) Something to find out about him off the sphere?
Name it a private vendetta, however he can be unusual with the media. He didn’t communicate to the press earlier than his Professional Day, which each different participant apart from Keon Coleman did. He solely spoke after observe as soon as this previous season, which felt odd given his position and stature on the group. Wilson is a extra reserved character who matches in properly with the sorts of individuals round him on the offense. He ought to deliver a relaxed demeanor to residing in an enormous metropolis, one thing that would eat up different rookies.
