Film Don't Lie | Brauntae Johnson
There may not be a more difficult position to evaluate for college football coaches and recruiting analysts than safety. The list of 4 and 5-stars who hit is a lot shorter than the ones who miss.
That’s probably why we see so many converted wide receivers end up at safety. It’s more important to have someone with the athleticism and skill sets of a receiver at the position as much as anything else because the rest has to be coached up.
That’s why Notre Dame’s newest commit, Brauntae Johnson, is such an intriguing prospect. He’s a better wide receiver than safety today, but his long term future could be very bright playing defensive back. He’s long, fluid, and has the kind of speed and ball skills to eventually succeed at the position for the Irish.
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 170
Projected Position: Safety
ISD Grade: 91 (4-star)
National Average: 91.8 (4-star)
What he does best:
Most of what he does best is at receiver right now. I mentioned the ball skills and he’s an elusive player after the catch as well. In terms of transitioning from receiver to defensive back, he tracks the deep ball well and he can win in traffic. He’ll be on the other side of contested catches, but this is always good to see.
He’s a long strider who can play in the middle of the field and make plays on the perimeter. His range in coverage and playing the run is going to be an asset.
There is no true replacement for speed on this type of play where he has to come all the way from the other side of the field to make this tackle.
What he needs to improve:
He’s more of an athlete than a natural safety when he plays there. He’s not the most instinctive and he’ll have to develop formation and route recognition in coverage. That’s not unlike a lot of players when they get into college.
He’s thin and will need to add weight and strength. He has the frame to easily get to around 200 pounds eventually.
What’s his ceiling?
Johnson is one of those prospects that is perfect for the “athlete” category in recruiting. He’s a more experienced and slightly better receiver right now, but I believe Notre Dame has it right projecting him to the other side of the ball because his ceiling is higher as a defensive back.
The safety position is a difficult one to master. There are more Max Redfields than Kyle Hamiltons. There are very few who are naturals there, but he has the speed, length, and range to develop into an outstanding player in the secondary.
Johnson has the raw tools that could translate to become a multi-year starter at the position, but his impact isn’t likely to be immediate.
Who he could be:
Former Baylor safety JT Woods
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