NFL Draft

[ulfie]

Looks like a first rounder to me....

http://www.gopsusports.com/pressreleases/p...cfm?anncid=3783

Larry Johnson Is First Nittany Lion to Lead Nation in Rushing & All-Purpose Yardage; Haynes Among NCAA Defensive Leaders STATE COLLEGE, Pa., January 16, 2002 - Penn State senior tailback Larry Johnson (State College) has become the first Nittany Lion to lead the nation in rushing and all-purpose yardage, according to the NCAA, which recently released its final national statistics for the 2002 season.

A former State College Area HS standout, Johnson became just the ninth player in NCAA Division I-A history to gain 2,000 yards rushing in the regular season during his record-setting 2002 campaign. He is the first Nittany Lion to lead an NCAA statistical category since All-America quarterback Kerry Collins led the nation in passing efficiency in 1994.

Johnson is the first Penn Stater to lead the nation in two offensive statistical categories in a season and joins placekicker Matt Bahr as the only Lions to lead two categories in the same season. In 1978, Bahr led the nation in field goal percentage (81.5, 22 of 27) and field goals made per game (2.0).

In addition to Johnson, defensive end Michael Haynes (Columbus, N.J.) finished in the top 11 of three categories, led by his seven forced fumbles, good for a tie for third-best in the nation. A first team All-American, Haynes was fifth nationally in sacks (15.0, 1.15 avg.) and 11th in tackles for loss (23.0, 1.77 avg.). The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Haynes led the conference in sacks, TFL and forced fumbles, and made 80 tackles.

In addition to leading the nation in rushing (160.5 ypg) and all-purpose yardage (204.2 ypg), Johnson was fourth nationally and first in the Big Ten in scoring at 10.8 ppg.

A consensus first-team All-American, Johnson won the Walter Camp and Maxwell Player-of-the-Year awards, the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back and finished third in balloting for the Heisman Trophy. He also was named the Chevrolet National Offensive Player-of-the-Year.

Johnson became the first player in the 107-year history of the Big Ten Conference to rush for more than 2,000 yards in the regular-season, breaking the school single game rushing record three times en route to 2,015 yards on 251 carries (8.0) and 20 touchdowns. His 8.0 yards per carry average during the regular season was the best among the eight previous backs to hit 2,000 yards in a season.

Johnson had four of the nation's top 12 rushing games, the only player with more than one, including Penn State record-breaking marks of 327 yards (the second-highest mark in the nation this season) at Indiana, 279 vs. Illinois, 257 vs. Northwestern and 279 yards - recorded in the first half - in his home finale against Michigan State. Johnson owns the top four single game rushing efforts in school history.

The 6-2, 222-pound bruising back with break-away speed, who entered 2002 with 866 yards in his three previous seasons, ended the season with 2,087 yards on 271 carries, for an outstanding 7.7 average, and 20 rushing touchdowns.

Johnson's total of 2,087 yards was seventh-highest in NCAA history and second-best in Big Ten annals, trailing only Ron Dayne's 2,109 yards in 1996. Johnson averaged 22-plus yards per rushing touchdown, as he tallied 140 points, the second-best season mark in school annals, and ran his career TD total to 34, third all-time at PSU.

Johnson posted eight 100-yard rushing games on the year and averaged an all-time Big Ten-best 8.8 yards per carry and 183.1 yards per game, gaining 1,465 yards on 166 carries, in eight Big Ten contests.

A unanimous first team All-Big Ten selection, his career rushing total of 2,953 yards was fifth-best at Penn State, despite being the primary ball carrier for just his senior season.

Johnson added 41 receptions for 349 yards, both school season records for a running back, and 11 kickoff returns for 219 yards, with a long of 53 yards, to his rushing total. His 2,655 all-purpose yards on the season shattered the Penn State record by more than 700 yards and were the fifth-highest total in NCAA history. He led the No. 2 player in all-purpose yards by nearly 25 yards per game.

Johnson and Haynes are among five Nittany Lions playing in Saturday's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Defensive tackle Anthony Adams (Detroit), wide receiver Bryant Johnson (Baltimore) and cornerback Bryan Scott (Warrington) also are playing the contest, which begins at 2:00 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN