Things didn’t go as planned at NFL combine for ex-Husky Dillon Johnson but spirits are high
DerekJohnson
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By Bob Condotta Seattle Times staff reporter
INDIANAPOLIS — Dillon Johnson’s NFL combine experience surely didn’t go quite the way he might have envisioned it.
On Friday, he showed up about two hours late for his scheduled media
session because NFL physicians continued to poke and prod at him,
including the two ankle injuries he suffered late in Washington’s 2023
season.
On Saturday, he ran 4.68 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which was 20th of the 21 running backs who took part (eight others who attended the combine declined to run).
But none of it seemed to dim his spirit.
When Johnson was finally freed up to talk to the media Friday, most of the
crowd had left and just two reporters remained to ask him questions.
Undeterred, Johnson still took the podium with a smile.
“It’s been crazy, man; it’s been crazy,’’ he said. “But I’ve enjoyed every
minute of it. I was blessed to be picked to be here, so why not enjoy
the process?’’
Johnson said he underwent medical tests from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Thursday and again Friday morning before getting a clean
enough bill of health to take part in everything Saturday.
“I’m the last running back standing,’’ he said with a smile, looking
around at a mostly empty interview area where every other running back
had already talked. “I’m happy to be here.’’
And happy to feel good after an injury-riddled end to his 2023 season.
Johnson dealt with injuries to both legs the last few months of the
season, including a right ankle injury and left knee, all of which had
his status serving as one of the biggest questions heading into the national title game.
Johnson suited up, as everyone expected, but
he suffered what he later said was a high ankle sprain on his left ankle on the first play of the game.
That helped limit him to just 33
yards on 11 carries in a 34-13 loss, his third-lowest total in a season
in which he finished with 1,195 yards on 233 carries.
“It sucks because it was my other ankle,’’ he said. “It was
frustrating for sure, but I tried to toughen it out. But it is what it is, man, you know?’’
Indeed, the passage of time has allowed Johnson to put what happened last season in better perspective than he could that night.
On Friday, he recalled the moments when he decided to leave Mississippi
State following the 2022 season with no clear idea what would happen next.
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Then-UW running backs coach Lee Marks called him almost immediately,
which set in motion his path to Washington, a school the Greenville,
Miss., native admitted he knew little about.
On Friday, Johnson admitted he’d never heard of Michael Penix Jr. until Marks started talking about him.
Johnson was sold after taking a trip to UW and watching Penix throw to
receivers — including what he said was “the greatest throw I’d ever
seen’’ on an effortless 55-yard TD — and when the school promised he’d
be able to get his family to every game.
“I mean it was a Cinderella story for me because never in a million
years would I have thought that I would have been at the University of
Washington playing for a national championship,’’ he said. “… So when I
was able to get that opportunity I said, ‘Why not?’ And I ended up going
there and ended up doing something special with a special group of
guys. So it was great. It was something that I can’t describe. I always
dreamed of playing in those incredible games like the game we played
against Texas and even the Michigan game. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity. It’s 0.1 percent of guys get to play in games like that. So
I was blessed to be in that 0.1 percent.’’
Now he’s hoping to keep beating the odds and get to the NFL.
Johnson, who measured at 6-foot, 217, is considered a likely Day 3 pick (fourth
to seventh rounds) with his college production, and especially his final
season at UW, sure to pique the interest of teams and speak as loudly
as any 40 team could.
But he also knows it’s a weird time to be a running back with the continual debate over their value.
“It is what it is,’’ Johnson said. “The value of running backs, I hate that
it’s like that. But that’s what we’re looking at. That’s the thing
right now. I’m just going to work my butt off and when my opportunity
comes, I’m going to take advantage of it.’’
Ross’ 40 record finally tumbles
The big news of Saturday’s combine arrived when Texas receiver Xavier
Worthy turned in a 4.21-second time in the 40-yard dash to break the
record of former Husky star receiver John Ross, who ran a 4.22 in 2017.
Worthy made the record run on his second try.
UW’s three receivers taking part also ran 40s — Rome Odunze was 17th among receivers with a 4.45; Jalen McMillan 21st at 4.47; and Ja’Lynn Polk tied for 25th at 4.52.
Odunze said Friday that he was hoping to run under 4.4, which would have added
some validity to a 4.34 40 time he was reported to have recorded last
offseason.
But the time still impressed, especially with Odunze measuring in at 6-2 7/8 inches and 212 pounds. Odunze scored well
overall in his drills — which included a 39-inch vertical leap — and the
general consensus seemed to be that he affirmed his standing as a
potential top-10 pick and among the top three receivers available.
Odunze and Polk, who measured at 6-1 3/8 inches and 203 pounds, also
tied for fourth in best 10-yard split among receivers at 1.52, a number
some teams value more than the 40. And McMillan, who measured 6-1, 197,
tied for the sixth-best broad jump at 10 feet, 6 inches.
Penix, most QBs don’t run 40s
Players are continuing to be more selective in which drills they participate in
at the combine. And that helped lead to just four out of 14
quarterbacks running a 40-yard dash.
The list of those not running included Penix, potentially saving it for UW’s Pro Day on March 28.
Penix took part in throwing drills and seemed to perform as advertised.
But it was his measurables that were said to have most caught the eye of NFL scouts at the combine.
Penix measured in at 6-2 1/4 inches and 216 pounds with an 81-inch wingspan and 10.5 inch hands.
As noted by the NFL Network, his hand size is in the top 10 all-time for
quarterbacks and the same as Anthony Richardson a year ago.
Russell Wilson famously recorded a 10.25-inch hand measurement in 2012, which
was among the factors that helped convince the Seahawks to take him in
the third round.
After Wilson’s stunning success his first few seasons in the league, hand size began to get even more attention,
specifically for quarterbacks, with the idea that it specifically helps in inclement weather.
Tanks, thaft.
poor Johnson. Rooting for him but doesn’t sound promising.
Thanks Taft!
I don't think Johnson's 40 time is all that brutal. Nobody thought he was fast. Video will show that, when he plants and goes, he has plenty of burst and acceptable sprint speed when he gets open field.
Sure it would've helped him to run 4.5, but probably not that hugely. His NFL ticket was always going to come via UDFA and impressing the right team with his power, hands, and especially blocking. I think he has a decent shot at a few years worth of paydays.
who cares about 40 times? Did anyone watch him play and think, “gee. I wonder what his 40 time is?” Fucker was punishing and got yards in the clutch. The Terrorist had a good 40 time and never converted a meaningful 3rd down.
Ross had a record 40 and what did it get him?
I hope so. For some reason he’s my Rudy. Not the whole white and crappy part but I want him so badly to at least go the d-wash or mickens route.