Jaleel Johnson Talks Difference with New Oklahoma State D-Line Coach Paul Randolph
STILLWATER – It is time to start reviewing the spring and players that popped. I’m talking players that we knew were going to develop and become mainstays within the offense or defense and where they are. There are several that are ready to become major playmakers on offense or defense. On the defensive side you have several and one that stood out nearly every practice is Jaleel Johnson. I remember when Johnson was recruited out of Putnam City North High School. I went and watched him in a preseason scrimmage at Edmond North. He was a man among boys. However, when you get to Stillwater you become a young man among a lot of grown men and that is especially true in the fall in games.
Johnson arrived at 6-5 and close to 240 pounds, but now after several offseason and summer programs with “Body by Glass” he is weighing 260 pounds plus and still as athletic as the day he arrived. His freshman season Johnson red-shirted and did not play in a single game. Last season he played in 12 of the 14 games and he produced with 12 total tackles, a tackle-for-loss, and a sack in the win over Kansas State as he put Will Howard down for a seven-yard-loss.
Johnson was scratching the surface and with the change of defensive line coaches in the offseason to veteran coach Paul Randolph, Johnson has found the instruction and the teaching method, the loading that has advanced his level of play.
“Our relationship is tight. He treats us as if we are his own sons, you know what I’m saying,” Johnson explained to OSU Max this spring. “He is a great coach and has taught me a lot of things that I needed to know last year, and I’m actually excited about this year.”
Obvious, as Johnson has become a huge thorn for quarterbacks Alan Bowman, Garret Rangel, and Zane Flores this spring. He is quick off the edge and has developed more in his repetoire to escape the tackles and all types of pass protection.
“He (Randolph) has taught me a lot of pass rush things. He’s taught me about getting off of the ball,” Johnson said. “How to use my hands better and just a lot of little things that I needed to succeed.”
If you’re inside as a defensive tackles like Justin Kirkland, Collin Clay, or Iman Oates then you are going to bull rush much of the time, but on the edge there are a wide variety of moves from swim and rip to spin moves. Everybody knows those moves, but the ones that execute them best and have the strength and power are the ones that get it done. So, with all the increased success in spring practice, has Johnson gone to a graduate-type level in pass rush technique?
“They have skyrocketed for sure,” Johnson jumped on the answer. “Before I could barely do a rip (move), you know what I’m saying. He’s(Randolph) taught us plenty of drills, plenty of things to do on our own, and I’ve been doing them. It shows out here on the field.”
I agree, I’ve seen it all spring with those insides guys including Aden Kelley playing better than I’ve seen him and young ends like Johnson, DeSean Brown, and a tweener like true freshman strongman Armstrong Nnodim have improved. Johnson had to average about a sack or a couple of quarterback hurries each practice.
This defense had 27 total sacks last season and I would bet you they will come close to and might even double that number this season. I’m not kidding, and Johnson, who had one last season will threaten double-digit sacks this season.