Ohio State left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. is headed to the NFL
Bill RabinowitzOhio State left tackle Paris Johnson is headed to the NFL.
Johnson announced his decision Tuesday on Twitter.
The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder is projected to be a first-round pick, probably in the first half of the round.
Johnson thanked his family, his Ohio State teammates, coaches and medical training staff, and even his journalism professors for their help during his three years at Ohio State.
Johnson, a five-star recruit from Cincinnati, was a consensus first-team All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten honoree.
"It has always been a dream of mine since I committed to The Ohio State University to leave with both my degree and a Buckeye Tree (for All-American status)," Johnson wrote. I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to accomplish both in three years. After having several conversations with my coaches and family, I want to accomplish the first dream of mine since I was five years old, which is to declare for the 2023 NFL draft."
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Johnson switched to his natural left tackle spot this year after playing right guard last year and was integral in Ohio State's offensive success this year. Ohio State averaged 44.2 points per game, second behind Tennessee nationally. Johnson allowed only two sacks all season protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud's blind side, one against Michigan and one against Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
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Johnson also made an impact off the field. He created a charitable foundation in high school that he expanded while at Ohio State. Over the holidays, it helped distribute gifts to the families of veterans incarcerated for non-violent crimes.
He also has been an OSU Scholar-Athlete all three years on campus. That status requires a 3.0 grade point average.
“Paris Johnson is just a tremendous young man,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said before OSU's CFP semifinal.
“To see his growth and what he's done on the field and off the field and (how he) has impacted Ohio State has been tremendous.”