NFL

FSU tackle finds draft redemption

By KEITH NIEBUHR
Published April 24, 2005

There has been much talk in recent weeks about a certain Florida State player being given a second chance after having faced legal issues in the past.

The chatter was about Adrian McPherson.

Maybe it should have been about Travis Johnson.

Two years ago, Johnson sat in a Leon County courtroom with his fate hanging in the balance. A six-woman jury took 25 minutes to deliberate and found Johnson not guilty of sexual battery. Had he been found guilty of the second-degree felony, he faced a maximum of 15 years in prison.

Johnson has made the most of life ever since.

During his final two seasons at Florida State, he became one of the country's most feared defensive tackles and Saturday he was rewarded for his play by the Houston Texans, who took him with the 16th overall pick. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Johnson, a Sherman Oaks, Calif., native, was the second player from a Florida college selected in the draft, behind only cornerback Antrel Rolle of Miami, who went eighth to Arizona.

"He's done more in one year than any player I've ever been around," said Gary Wichard, Johnson's agent. "Travis came into the season as a question mark. For him to shoot to the middle of the first round and be the first (defensive tackle) taken is amazing."

Rolle, a 6-foot, 202-pound All-American, was the only Hurricane selected in the first round, a dramatic change from 2004 when six Miami players went in the first 21 picks. Rolle was regarded as one of the country's premier cornerbacks, a player not only with exceptional speed but the physical toughness needed to excel in the NFL. He finished his Miami career with 183 tackles, 21 pass deflections and five interceptions.

Three picks after Johnson was taken, the St. Louis Rams chose Johnson's FSU teammate, Alex Barron, a 6-7, 320-pound offensive tackle whom many draft analysts think will see immediate playing time in the NFL. Barron was a top pick largely because of his combination of size, speed and athleticism. Some, however, have questioned his desire and aggressiveness.

"I'm going to be ready to play," Barron said.

In St. Louis, Barron will have the luxury of working alongside Orlando Pace, who is among the game's premier linemen.

"He's one of the best to learn from," Barron said. "It's a great offense and I'm going to show them what I can do."

No other player from a state school was selected in the opening round, and the next taken didn't come from one of Florida's Big Three. Bethune-Coookman defensive back Nick Collins went with the 51st overall pick to Green Bay. Collins, a native of tiny Cross City (about 45 minutes northwest of Gainesville), was the first defensive player selected by the Packers, a team that is set on revamping its defense.

Florida linebacker Channing Crowder, one of the Southeastern Conference's best defensive players, came out early after playing only two seasons in hopes of being a first-round pick. But lingering questions about his health (he has had numerous injuries and operations) apparently caused him the slip, and he fell to Miami in the third round with the 70th overall pick.

[Last modified April 24, 2005, 01:03:20]