FSU football: Jermaine Johnson shining at Senior Bowl practice

FSU football defensive end Jermaine Johnson bet on himself by choosing the Noles to play his final college season.

The UGA transfer signed with an FSU program coming off a 3-6 season and instantly upgraded a defense that was among the worst among Power 5 programs.

Johnson showed a relentless motor, high football IQ, an array of pass rush moves, and the ability to play against the run in one season in Tallahassee.

He saw his efforts rewarded with the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Johnson was All-ACC First Team and Walter Camp Football Foundation First Team.

Johnson already projects as an NFL First Round selection by several NFL Draft analysts, but he’s leaving no doubt with an opportunity to show what he can do at the Reese’s Senior Bowl:

Johnson has been dominant at the Senior Bowl practices on day one. One thing that stands out about these drills is they are in helmet and shoulder pads where it’s not as much of a disadvantage for the offensive lineman as opposed to if they didn’t have pads on.

It’s difficult to do, but Jermaine Johnson endeared himself to FSU football fans in one season and made rival fans respect what he brought to the table. His 70 tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss, 11.5 sacks, 12 QB hurries, and two forced fumbles help an FSU defense improve by over 50 spots according to advanced metrics.

If you could create a player for your college football team, he embodies all of the traits you’d want, and whatever NFL team selects him will get someone eager to prove what they bring to the table.

Hamsah Nasirildeen used the Senior Bowl to boost his stock going into the NFL Draft last season, and it looks like Jermaine Johnson could former Noles to do the same.