Johnathan Abram
Dwayne Haskins Jersey , SafetySchool: Mississippi State | Conference: SECCollege Experience: Senior | Age: 22Height / Weight: 5-11 / 205 lbsProjected
Draft Status: 2nd or 3rd RoundNFL Comparison: OverviewJohnathan Abram is going to be a savage in the
secondary for the team that drafts him in April.The Columbia, Mississippi native
was considered a three-star recruit coming out of East Marion High School.Abram
originally committed to playing for the University of Georgia as a result of
heavy recruitment by defensive coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt.Abram played his
Freshmen season in Athens before current Head Coach Kirby Smart was hired by the
Bulldogs and Pruitt left to become the defensive coordinator at the University
of Alabama.After this coaching personnel shift, Abram decided to leave
Georgia.For his Sophomore season he would play at Jones County Junior College in
Mississippi.After that year 24/7 Sports ranked him as the 10th overall JUCO
prospect.By leaving the conference completely, Abram was allowed to play in the
conference of his choosing for his Junior and Senior seasons. For Johnathan’s
Junior and Senior campaigns he returned to the SEC Conference, enrolled at
Mississippi State University, and became a terror on the back end of their
defense.Abram quickly became known as a big-hitter and enforcer in the SEC.In
2018, the Mississippi State Bulldog defense was the number one scoring defense
in the country.Abram was a big part of that, along with his fellow draft
prospect teammates Montez Sweat and Jeffery Simmons.Abram’s outstanding Senior
season earned him AP First-Team All-SEC & Third-Team All-American
honors.Abram is a downhill force against the run game and a more than acceptable
coverage man in the passing game.He is a Safety who appears to diagnose a play
quickly and get to the ball in a hurry.And in watching film, one thing is
certain, he is not afraid of contact.However, his aggression can get the best of
him at times as his adrenaline seems to send him into plays a bit out of
control.With the correct coaching and patience, this should be able to get
cleaned up at the next level.Strengths Hard hitting classic Strong Safety who
plays with violent intentions. His coaches and teammates love his high motor and
energy.Was not observed “taking plays off” on film Vocal team leader on the back
end of the defense and in the huddleHas the range and speed in run support to
get downhill in a hurry. Had 9 tackles for a loss as a Senior Above average
blitzing skills that are ideal for an in-the-box type SafetyConsistently
observed attempting to strip the ball away from the ball carrierPossesses a
thick frame, which should help him stand up to the violent contact that comes
with playing Safety in the NFLWeaknessesNeeds to improve his ball skills, only
generated two interceptions in his college career. Seems to struggle with
tracking the ball in the air. Aggressive style at times has led him to overrun
plays and take bad angles. Needs to do a better job of playing under control and
cutting down the missed tacklesPlays with stiffness in his hips, which can be a
liability in man coverageHe could stand to raise his target as many times he
just throws himself at the ankles of the running back or receiverLet’s See His
Work:How He Would Fit On The RedskinsWith a hole at Safety created by the
release of defensive captain DJ Swearinger the Redskins could look to the draft
to fill a need.Currently the roster has Montae Nicholson (probable suspension
coming for involvement in a physical altercation)
Dwayne Haskins Redskins Jersey , Troy Apke (a project at the position who would need to make enormous strides to be a large contributor this year), Adonis
Alexander (Another project and former supplemental draft pick), and Deshazor
Everett (meh) slotted as possible starters at Safety for next season.Ha Ha
Clinton-Dix is an unrestricted free agent and may decide to sign elsewhere.Even
if they were to re-sign Clinton-Dix, more help is needed.Abram could come in and
immediately start at Strong Safety for the Redskins.His playing style is eerily
similar to Swearinger, so the defense could move forward without missing much of
a beat.While he may not have the “swag” or the mouth that DJ had, he has the
potential to be an early contributor and future defensive leader.Plus, it would
be wise for the Redskins to bring in a player with his prowess for attacking
running backs.After all, we play in a division that features Ezekiel Elliott and
Saquon Barkley.Should he be available when the Skins are picking on day two of
the draft, Abram could be just what the doctor ordered for the team’s
secondary.Will he even still be on the board by then?Stay tuned Skins fans. One
of the few bright spots for Washington during their 0-3 start to the season has
been the play of rookie wide receiver Terry McLaurin, but he may not be part of
the effort to end the losing streak against the Giants this Sunday.The
third-round pick popped up on Thursday’s injury report as a limited participant
due to a hamstring injury. Mid-week additions to the injury report often lead to
absences on Sunday and things appear to be moving in that direction in
Washington.According to multiple reporters, McLaurin is not participating in the
open portion of Friday’s practice. The team will hand out injury designations
later in the day, but both the trajectory and the nature of hamstring injuries
suggest he’s heading for the inactive list.McLaurin has 16 catches for 257 yards
and three touchdowns over his first three NFL games.Center Chase Roullier, right
guard Brandon Scherff and tight end Jordan Reed are also out of practice for
Washington. None of them have practiced at all this week, so the offense may be
awfully shorthanded against the Giants.
