2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: Theo Johnson, TE Penn State
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek: Theo Johnson, a Tight End from Penn State. He is from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and was a 4-star recruit out of Holy Names High School.
As a redshirt freshman in 2020 for Penn State, Johnson played in only 4 games. He caught 4 passes for 56 receiving yards and 0 touchdowns while preserving his redshirt.
In 2021 as a freshman for Penn State, he appeared in 13 games. Once again he totalled minimal stats with 19 receptions for 213 yards and 1 touchdown.
His sophomore season of 2022 saw him appear in 11 games with again limited production. While significantly more than his previous season, he still was only able to rack up 20 receptions for 328 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
His final collegiate season came as a junior in 2023 for Penn State. He appeared in 13 games and caught 34 passes for 341 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Measurables
Height: 6’6” (82nd-percentile)
Weight: 257 lbs (61st-percentile)
Age: 22.1
Class: Junior
NCAA Statistics
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2020 | Penn State | Big Ten | FR | TE | 7 | 4 | 56 | 14.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 56 | 14.0 | 0 | |
| *2021 | Penn State | Big Ten | SO | TE | 13 | 19 | 213 | 11.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 213 | 11.2 | 1 | |
| *2022 | Penn State | Big Ten | SO | 11 | 20 | 328 | 16.4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 328 | 16.4 | 4 | ||
| *2023 | Penn State | Big Ten | JR | TE | 13 | 34 | 341 | 10.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 341 | 10.0 | 7 | |
| Career | Penn State | 77 | 938 | 12.2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 77 | 938 | 12.2 | 12 | |||||
Scouting Reports
Strengths
- Has soft, strong hands and is a reliable target in the passing game.
- He excels at catching in high-traffic areas.
- Is explosive off the line and plays with the athleticism of a wide receiver.
- Is a physical field stretcher as a playmaker and possesses an Alpha mentality on the field.
Weaknesses
- Has a limited route tree and route-running technique.
- Has only played in a spread offense and could struggle to adapt to a different system at the next level.
- He lacks chops as a blocker and often plays with his pad level too high.
- Lacks bulk on the line of scrimmage and is prone to being overpowered by defenders.
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Late Round 6/Early Round 7
Ideal Landing Spot: Carolina Panthers
It’s going to take some time for Theo Johnson to develop into an NFL tight, but the ability is there. The Carolina Panthers are a good fit as they in general are still developing as a team.
Johnson could essentially step into a full-time role as a rookie while playing in low-pressure situations on a non-contending team. This would give him a chance to gain real-time NFL experience while not forcing him to do more than he is capable of while he develops.
Check out The Fantasy Football Universe video breakdown of Theo Johnson below.
