Howie Johnson

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-3, 255 lbs. Taller than 37% and heavier than 17% of 2026 Defensive Line prospects in the SEC Scouts database (227 with a listed size).

Play Style

An active, attacking penetrator who plays through the backfield instead of reading and reacting. He fires off the snap, gets his hands on the blocker first and uses his length to create separation before shedding. His TFL total (roughly a third of his tackles) shows he lives behind the line against the run as well as the pass, which points to good play recognition and the closing burst to finish in space. The wrestling background shows in his hand fighting and his balance when he's being blocked or tugged. He has lined up in several spots up front, which fits a college staff that wants a movable 3-technique who can slide out to a 4i or 5 on passing downs.

Strengths

• Backfield production: 88.0 career TFL and 20-22 sacks (sources differ) among 261 tackles. As a sophomore he had 28 TFL and 7 sacks in 10 games, so he was disrupting plays for three seasons, not one.
• Explosive power backed by other sports: a 56-9¾ shot put and heavyweight wrestling show force transfer from the ground up, hand combat and leverage. Those traits carry directly to taking on double teams and winning with a long-arm or bull rush.
• Proven against top in-state competition: three-time all-state, two-time East Metro Player of the Year, Mr. Football finalist, and a two-time captain. He was the focus of every opponent's protection plan and still produced.

Areas to Improve

• Weight and anchor: 260 pounds is light for a Big Ten interior lineman. He needs a full strength-and-nutrition cycle before he can hold up against 320-pound guards and down blocks on early downs.
• Pass-rush toolbox and level of competition: Minnesota high school linemen rarely test him with technically sound blocking, so a lot of his production came from simply overpowering people. He needs a counter plan (swim/club, push-pull) and more consistent pad level to win against college technique.

College Projection

He is on the roster as a true freshman defensive lineman, alongside Jeremiah Benson and Josiah Anyansi. A redshirt season is the most likely path: he can use the four-game allowance to get some rotation snaps while he adds mass. He should become a rotational 3-technique as a redshirt freshman in 2027 and could start by 2028 at around 290-295 pounds. He is the type of in-state interior lineman Minnesota has historically built its defensive fronts around.

NFL Outlook

He has real Day 3 draft potential, with a Day 2 ceiling if his frame fills out without losing burst. NFL teams value interior linemen who get into the backfield and have strong testing profiles, and his thrower/wrestler background suggests strong numbers on the bench, broad jump and 10-yard split once he is at 295 or more. The deciding factors will be his anchor against the run at his top weight and whether he develops a reliable counter move. If he gets both, he fits as a one-gap 3-technique at the next level.

Best Fit

An attacking one-gap 4-3 or multiple front that lets its interior linemen get upfield instead of two-gapping, run by a patient strength staff with a proven record of building up lighter linemen over two or three years. Minnesota fits well: he can redshirt without pressure to play early, and his length and quickness suit a 3-technique that gets to slide out to the edge on passing downs.