Ian Johnson ready for final chance to show his skills to NFL scouts on the field
Former Boise State tailback Ian Johnson will get plenty of chances between now and the NFL Draft to show off his speed, strength and intelligence.
That's what the Scouting Combine, Boise State's pro day and individual team meetings are for.
He only gets one more chance, though, to show scouts how he plays football.
That chance comes Saturday in Houston, where Johnson will play tailback for the West in the East-West Shrine Game - the oldest college all-star game. The game begins at 2 p.m. and airs on ESPN2.
"It's basically my last hoorah," said Johnson, who set a WAC record with 58 career rushing touchdowns. "It's my last chance to show truly what I'm all about. It's a team game, but this is the first game that does have a lot of personal aspects to it.
"It's really my last chance before the NFL to say, 'This is what I'm all about. This is how hard I run. This is how hard I practice.' It's a great way to wrap up my career as a college athlete."
Not that he's waiting to move on.
Johnson already has signed with two agents - one for his football contracts, the other for his marketing contracts. He began training at a facility in Oceanside, Calif., shortly after Christmas. Among his training partners is Javon Ringer, the star running back from Michigan State.
The training was arranged by agent Bruce Tollner of Rep1 Sports Group in Irvine, Calif. - the agency that signed Johnson and represents Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
"I definitely understand that college is over," Johnson said, "but I feel like I have my best football ahead of me."
And a lot more than football, too.
Michael Harris, the president of Best Sports Consultants in Philadelphia, recruited Johnson and will handle his non-football matters - endorsements, autograph sessions and charitable work among them.
He sees plenty of opportunity for Johnson - ranging from deals with Treasure Valley companies to a possible deal with a national nutritional drink.
Harris also might line up endorsements that combine the fame of Johnson and his wife, Chrissy. Johnson proposed after scoring the game-winning two-point conversion in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
"He's not afraid to try things," Harris said. "He's got the entrepreneurial spirit. He knew how to market himself - it was probably by accident - by his personality. He'd be great to be the face of certain products."
Harris, whose clients include wide receiver Marques Colston of the New Orleans Saints and running back Steve Slaton of the Houston Texans, expects Johnson to start showing up as a product endorser in the spring. Some of those deals will be dependent on where he plays, Harris said.
And he fully expects Johnson to make his primary living on the football field.
"The word on Ian is that he might not be a tremendous athlete, but he's just a very, very good football player," Harris said. "I'm counting on him being just that - a good football player who will develop and learn and become a great one."
