Florida State offensive lineman Rod Johnson declares for the NFL Draft

After much speculation about his potential decision, FSU offensive lineman Rod Johnson has declared for the 2017 NFL Draft, forgoing his final year of collegiate eligibility.

Johnson ends his Florida State career having started 31 consecutive games as the Seminoles’ starting left tackle. He is a two-time Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, the fifth ‘Nole to win the award on multiple occasions.

Johnson, a four-star recruit originally out of Florissant, Missouri, made his first career start in FSU’s tenth game of the 2014 season against Miami after Cameron Erving moved from left tackle to center. Johnson never surrendered his spot from then on. His freshman season, Johnson was a member of USA Today’s and Athlon Sports’ Freshman All-America teams, and also garnered second-team Freshman All-American honors from College Football News and Campus Insiders.

Each of the next two years, Johnson won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy and was named a first-team All-ACC player by both the media and the coaches. In 2015, he was awarded an All-America honorable mention from Sports Illustrated and was a second teamer on Sporting News and USA Today’s All-America team. This past year, Johnson earned his first first-team All-American nod from Walter Camp as well as second-team spots from the American Football Coaches Association and The Sporting News.

Johnson is currently rated as the No. 4 draft-eligible offensive tackle by NFL Draft Scout and is projected as the 73rd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by Walter Camp.

On the most recent Florida State depth chart, rising junior Ethan Frith is listed as the backup left tackle behind Johnson. However, with the sheer amount of offensive line talent that arrived at FSU in last year’s recruiting class, there is definitely room for competition as those young players continue to come into their own. Right tackle Rick Leonard could slide to left tackle in 2017.