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2014 NFL Draft Capsules: Wesley Johnson, OL (EVERY POSITION)

Wesley Johnson started 51 straight games for the Commodores and only gave up two sacks in his final two years on campus. So why is this do-everything lineman not generating more interest before the 2014 NFL Draft?

Oh, hello there. I didn't see you come in.
Oh, hello there. I didn't see you come in.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Wesley Johnson

Position: Offensive Tackle. And Offensive Guard. And occasionally Center.

Size: 6'5", 297 lbs.

Recruit Ranking: A three-star offensive lineman. Johnson was the highest-rated recruit of Bobby Johnson's 2009 class.

2013 (and beyond) Statistics: 51 consecutive starts. 61 knockdown blocks and 27 intimidation blocks in 2013. Just two sacks allowed in the past two seasons.

Relevant Awards:

• 2013 First Team All-SEC (Coaches)
• 2013 Second Team All-SEC (AP, Athlons & Phil Steele)
• 2013 SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (Oct. 19)
• 2013 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
• 2013 Outland Trophy Watch List
• 2012 All-SEC Honorable Mention (AP)
• 2012 SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (Nov. 3)
• Outland Award Watch List
• 2010 SEC All-Freshman team

Strengths: Johnson is the most consistent, most effective, and most important offensive lineman that the Commodores have had in the modern era. He's suffered through a two-win season and celebrated during a pair of nine-win seasons while playing outstanding football through all of them. At a time when Vandy's offensive line was cut down by turnover and a lack of depth, Johnson stepped up to turn a young group of players into a cohesive unit and allowed guys like Zac Stacy, Jordan Matthews, and Jordan Rodgers to shine on offense.

Johnson didn't earn a holding call in his career until halfway through his senior season. Referees aren't perfect and neither is Johnson, but that's still a pretty impressive statistic. Over the past two seasons, he's been credited with giving up just two sacks despite primarily playing left tackle and protecting Rodgers, Austyn Carta-Samuels, and Patton Robinette's blindsides. The senior stalwart took on some of the best defensive linemen in the NCAA and often dispatched them as Vanderbilt's offense went through a revival in 2012 and 2013.

Johnson showed off solid athleticism at the NFL Combine as well. His broad jump and 3-cone drill numbers each rated out in the top five of all linemen and put him alongside projected first round picks like Greg Robinson and Taylor Lewan. He's a high character player who understands the game well and can be utilized as a Swiss Army Knife in the trenches. He engages at the line of scrimmage and finishes his blocks well, often securing the edge - though Vandy frustratingly avoided running on the outside in 2013 despite their effectiveness there in limited carries.

Weaknesses: Johnson isn't particularly huge or freakishly athletic. He doesn't have anything on paper that will make scouts start salivating. He's still got room to get bigger - he's up from 235 pounds as a high schooler and up from 290 pounds as a junior - but it's unlikely he'll ever be a massive NFL lineman.

His success in college came as much from hard work as it did from physical gifts. While he's a solid athlete who should be successful at the next level, he may not have the extra gear that some scouts are looking for in an early draft pick.

ProjectionFourth to seventh round pick. Johnson is a versatile, hard-working, and intelligent lineman with a high floor but a limited ceiling as a football player. He may find himself passed over for players with more potential in the middle rounds, but his NFL-ready style of play will make him a third-day gem for a team with holes up front. Johnson has a stellar reputation amongst Vandy fans, but he's a bit of an unknown outside of Nashville. He'll change all that if he can bring the same kind of dedication and production he did to Vanderbilt into the NFL.