Florida State WR Johnny Wilson is a unique prospect who towers above the competition. A Day 2 hopeful, but likely an early Day 3 guy, Wilson will offer an NFL team something different than just about any other WR in this class. Let’s take a look at his path to the NFL.
Where Did Johnny Wilson’s Football Career Start?
Wilson attended Calabasas High School in Calabasas, Calif. In his senior year, he caught 37 passes for 606 yards and eight touchdowns.
A four-star recruit, Wilson fielded offers from a staggering 37 schools, all from Division I programs.
Before his senior year, Wilson committed to play at Oregon. However, he wound up changing his mind and enrolling at Arizona State.
Revisiting Wilson’s College Career
Arizona State
There’s very little to discuss regarding Wilson’s time as a Sun Devil. He redshirted as a freshman, appearing in just three games and catching six passes for 89 yards.
MORE: Top WRs in the 2024 NFL Draft
In his sophomore year, Wilson’s playing time did not really increase. He appeared in five games and caught 12 balls for 154 yards.
With things clearly not going how he wanted them to at Arizona State, Wilson decided to leave, transferring to Florida State.
Florida State
From the moment Wilson arrived at Florida State, things were different. In his junior year in 2022, Wilson led the Seminoles in receptions (43), receiving yards (897), and receiving touchdowns (five). He played in 13 games.
In his senior year, Wilson’s efficiency took a step back, largely due to the emergence of Keon Coleman, but he was still quite productive. Wilson reeled in 41 passes for 617 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games.
6’7” men simply aren’t meant to move like FSU’s Johnny Wilson…
pic.twitter.com/ftR1Rntmt6— College Football Network (@CFN365) October 29, 2022
Although he had another year of eligibility after redshirting as a freshman, Wilson chose to enter the 2024 NFL Draft.
Wilson’s Potential in the NFL
Wilson is a very unique prospect. As Pro Football Network draft analyst Ian Cummings describes, “At 6’6 3/8″, 231 pounds, with arms over 35″, Wilson is a towering spectacle with dominating size and length.”
Of course, there’s more to Wilson than being “just big.” Cummings explains.
“Wilson grades out as a fringe top-100 prospect who could go in the mid-to-late Day 2 range, or sneak past the Day 3 boundary. In a deeper WR class, his physical profile and role projection are more confined and specific than others’ — but his upside is undeniable.
Also threatening is Wilson’s physical profile, both at and after the catch. He can use his frame to box out DBs and his length to supersede all contested threats. He’s a raging bull after the catch with domineering physicality, tenacity, leg churn, and mass — all made more potent by his searing explosiveness out of contact.
As a weapon, Wilson is exciting — and he can be used with versatility, lining up either on the boundary, in the slot, or hugging the line. He also provides additional value as an elite blocking presence. But while Wilson can be easily weaponized, his operational traits draw more uncertainty.”
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Johnny Wilson
Given his size and athletic ability, Wilson is a good bet to succeed in the NFL, but Cummings sees a move to tight end as a possibility.
“Wilson’s limited route-running projection and his hands dilute an otherwise enthralling 2024 NFL Draft scouting report. But even with his drawbacks, Wilson can be an exciting dual-sided RAC and deep threat for an NFL offense.
Wilson may project better as a move-TE at the next level. But either as a mismatch-hunting movement-Z WR or as a position-diverse weapon in a rotation, Wilson’s physicality simply overwhelms defenders, and he has the true speed and explosiveness to capitalize as an offensive sparkplug and utility blocker.”
Highlights, Records, and More
With limited playing time at Arizona State, Wilson only had two years to earn any individual accolades. At Florida State, Wilson was able to achieve Second-Team All-ACC honors in 2022. Despite his step back in production, he still made the Third-Team All-ACC in 2023.
Wilson’s best career performance came in his 2022 Bowl Game against Oklahoma. He had a career-high eight receptions for a career-high 202 yards. That sort of upside is what NFL scouts will be chasing when one team inevitably selects Wilson in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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