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The New Orleans Saints used their sixth-round pick, No. 183 overall, to select Tarleton State defensive Rufus Johnson.

Johnson, 6 feet 5 and 272 pounds, was the 27th ranked defensive end by NFLdraftscout.com and the 357th-rated prospect overall. Johnson was the Lone Star Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year when he had 50 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

New Orleans Saints draft Tarleton State defensive end Rufus Johnson in the sixth round | NOLA.com

DE Rufus Johnson, Tarleton State - 6'6, 266

Johnson is a big 6'5 1/2", 266 pound defensive end out of Tarleton State (no idea) that ran a 4.75 40 at his pro day with a 1.62 second split. He has/had a private workout with the Hawks, so suffice to say he's on my radar as a possible UDFA or late-round draft pick. Johnson was the 2012 Lone Star Conference defensive lineman of the year after he racked up 10.0 sacks and an impressive 17.5 tackles for a loss.

Impressively, he also finished the 9-game season with 50 tackles, which tells me that he plays the run well too - something the Seahawks will certainly find attractive.

He's got a nice strong punch off the snap that he uses to get offensive tackles off balance, and he does a nice job of keeping his eyes in the backfield so he doesn't run himself out of plays or get out of position.

The way he moves on the field - and maybe this is way over reaching, but he reminds me a little bit of Chris Clemons. Just the way he snaps up as the ball is snapped and either rushes the passer like a bat out of hades or sees that it's a run and gets himself into a balanced stance - slightly reminiscent of Clemons, in my opinion.

NFL Draft 2013 Seahawks Sleepers: DE Rufus Johnson, Tarleton State - Field Gulls


Rufus Johnson is more of a one-trick pony, winning primarily with violent, heavy hands and a quick disengage move to the inside. While the power moves he utilized in the pit drills likely won’t work versus starting level talent at the NFL level, Johnson’s ability to translate speed into power still stood out during drills. Additionally, Johnson competed with consistent effort throughout the afternoon, showing an excellent motor and active hands versus both the run and the pass.

2013 Texas Vs Nation Game: Wednesday Practice Notes

2. Rufus Johnson, DE, Tarleton State

Probably the most physically impressive specimen at the Lone Star Conference festival, Rufus Johnson really looks the part of an NFL caliber, 4-3 defensive end. Along with possessing plus size, length, and muscle definition throughout, Johnson also sports a quick, explosive first step, a non-stop motor, and excellent closing speed to finish plays in the backfield. While his leg drive and balance serve well for a power-speed combination at the Division II level, Johnson still remains very raw from a technique standpoint. He lacks a go-to move, doesn’t always read and react instinctively to the play, and can be influenced up the field or down the line of scrimmage by the blocker. A size-speed prospect with plus physical tools to develop, Johnson is a must-sign, priority free agent that all NFL teams should take a closer look at.

2013 Texas vs. Nation Game Defensive Prospect Preview

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