Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

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

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson in the 6th round
 

Tell me something good about Rufus!

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

Those obscure/small school guys never work out.
Sincerely,
Marcus Colston
Jermon Bushrod
Jahri Evans
Lance Moore
Chris Ivory
Akiem Hicks

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

with the talent on the board we do this? whatever.

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

Well, there's always UDFA.

I heard somewhere that you like those ;)

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

Representatives from six NFL teams gathered at Tarleton State’s pro day held at nearby Aledo High School on March 15, where 10 players went through a workout held at the high school’s indoor facility.

Rufus Johnson, DE (6-foot-4 1/2, 266 pounds) — Johnson ran the 40-yard dash in 4.75 and 4.78 seconds. He had a 34 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-2 broad jump. He did the short shuttle in 4.64 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.69 seconds. Johnson will be going to Seattle and San Diego for visits with the Seahawks and Chargers, respectively. He has also been encouraged to work out at Texas State’s pro day on March 26, which should be well-attended since the University of Texas will be hosting its pro day that same day (Texas’ will be held in the morning, while Texas State’s pro day will be conducted in the afternoon.

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

UDFA here we go

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

I do remember someone saying all the talent on the board was pretty much the same. No?

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

Beefcake Rufus! What a beast!

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

Damn Hagan, I've never heard you so negative. This group better put up or shut up or you're gonna be one pissed off hombre come season end.

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

lets see if rob ryan can pull a rabbit out of his --- with that pick. even spags did not rub so bad in his one and only draft.

i am leaving at whatever. put him on the field and lets see what we got.

put another crow in the freezer

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

i am sorry i know it is not my nature to be this kind of saints fan. it has been years since i felt this way.
so i am going to try to sit back and not say a thing and let the chips fall were they may.
you know i will gladly eat all the crow in my freezer with a smile if i am wrong. that means the saints are winning. yes everyone can bust my chops over it to

once again i apologize for being such an ugly saints fan.

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

You tried letting it go last night. Came back with a vengeance. Just get it all out.

We are here for you bro!

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

This dude would have gone undrafted... I've never even heard of that player or that college until today. Not a very good pick in my opinion but if he can turn into one of our magical late round studs that we're known for then I'll eat more crow than anybody LOL.

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

Caw caw caw..........

Edit: That is what a crow sounds like.:clown:

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

Your avatar helps give the image of ugly. Try a different one. :-)

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

It's ok Hagan, we're all family here. Quit beating around the bush and tell us how you really feel. We're here for ya. ;)

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

Good project? But would he have been available after? Trust the coaches to know some thing we do not

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

Bro, you need a hug? :p

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

Brrrrrrr

Edit: That's what crows sound like in the freezer.

Here's hopin' that crow tastes soooo sweet.

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

Johnson:
This is another project. A veritable unknown coming out of Tarleton State, the Saints obviously weren’t far off on him. General Manager Mickey Loomis said after the pick, another team’s front office member texted him to let him know they were high on the outside linebacker. If his game translates to the NFL, the Saints could have found another late-round steal. He finished with 17 ½-tackles for a loss, including 10 sacks, his senior season. It looks on paper to be a great value pick in the sixth round.

Handwerger: Impossible to know how Saints did, but looks good on paper | wwltv.com New Orleans

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

With a name like Rufus he has to be good. Go get'em Rufus I hope you make the pro bowl for many years.

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

Tell me somethin' good! I've gotta say this pick has me majorly curious. Just offhand I'd say there are at least three of our UDFAs that I'd have chosen over this guy. I can't wait to see what they saw in him.

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

If we didn't draft him, he would have not been available for us after the draft. That says a lot... and the fact three of our UFDA's that you like didn't get drafted says something too. When it comes to these unknowns, we have a pretty good track record... I'm sure they know what they're doing.

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

I actually find myself excited that we got a guy from
another non-football-factory school. There must be something to this guy,
if Peyton's guys found him, under yet another college football rock.

Tarleton, by the way, is in North Texas and is the #1 School if you want to be a rodeo cowboy. Im familiar with it. So he must have a horse, and chew tobacco, qualities I want in a D-lineman.

Re: Saints select Rufus Johnson, DE, in the 6th round
 

Like I've said in another thread. When it comes to the daft and what happened after, right now my middle name's Pollyanna.