Defensive back Trumaine Johnson could become the latest former Montana player to join the Falcons.
The Falcons, who are working to improve their pass defense, have heavily scouted the Montana program under general manager Thomas Dimitroff. They drafted defensive end Kroy Biermann in the fifth round of the 2008 draft and added safety Shann Schillinger in the sixth in 2010.
Because of his intriguing skill-set and ability to play multiple positions, Johnson could become the third Montana player to join the Falcons since 2008 when the NFL draft plays out April 26-28.
“I’ll go anywhere,” Johnson said. “I played in Montana. ... I’ll play anywhere.”
Johnson played at Edison High in Stockton, Calif., where as a quarterback and defensive back he was named first-team all-league at both positions. He also was voted into his high school’s football “Hall of Fame” as a defensive back.
Pac-12 schools California, Arizona State and USC checked him out, but never presented him with the coveted scholarship offer to play in the West Coast’s premier football conference.
Throughout his stellar career at Montana, Johnson used those recruiting slights as motivation.
“I went to the USC camp,” said Johnson, who’s not related to the former Grambling star and San Diego Charger by the same name. “I went to the Cal camp. They said they were going to offer me. They never called me back. USC never called me back, either.
“[Arizona State] was supposed to take me on a visit, usually when they take you on a visit, they call you. They never called me back, either. I didn’t want to go to a junior college, so I went to Montana.”
He went on to star for one of the nation’s top FCS programs. He was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Sky Conference first-team pick as well.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Johnson said. “I took that and ran with it.”
Johnson was a rare four-year starter (45 starts) for Montana, and with his lanky and lithe frame, he had a school-record 36 pass deflections and 15 interceptions.
Johnson, who’s a shade under 6-foot-2 and weighs 204 pounds, was considered a wide receiver when he arrived at Montana. On the second day of practice, he was asked to play cornerback because Montana was opening against Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo and wide receiver Ramses Barden (6-7, 235 pounds).
Johnson struggled against the rugged Barden, who went on to be drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2009 draft.
“In the first half, he torched me,” Johnson said. “He’s a great player. Second half, I clamped down and we won the game by one.”
He passed that first test.
“Welcome to college,” said Johnson, who compares himself to Philadelphia cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
He’s also a tough player who has played through injuries. As a sophomore, Johnson fractured his right ulna bone and played six games with a cast.
Johnson had a little incident in college that ended with him being shot with a Taser gun after the police tried to breakup a party. He was charged with obstructing a peace officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Johnson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct, and the other charges were dropped in a plea deal.
The police officers were impressed that Johnson and a teammate accepted responsibility for the underlying conduct that led to the conflict.
College kids having a party that went off the tracks a little bit is probably not enough for Johnson to get a “black dot” and be removed from the Falcons’ draft board.
Johnson is not worried about being labeled as a “small school” cornerback.
“Just turn the tape on against Tennessee,” Johnson said. “They’re an SEC team, the only [FBS] team we played my senior year. Turn that tape on.”
Johnson had a strong game in the Vols’ 42-16 victory on Sept. 3, with seven tackles, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.
He has the passion and confidence to play defensive back.
“I love the game. I love competition,” Johnson said. “I feed off it. I believe I belong in the NFL.”
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