Stafon Johnson Makes 30 Seconds of NFL Combine Watchable

There is a new most important guy at the NFL draft combine:

USC senior RB Stafon Johnson, who has missed most of this season following a freak weightlifting accident, will not apply for a medical hardship and will turn pro, according to his uncle. Kregg Anderson said Johnson has notified USC coach Pete Carroll of the decision.

It's whoever's spotting Stafon Johnson on the bench. Don't screw it up, kid. Dollars to donuts Johnson's bench is a heartwarming/boring SportsCenter highlight.

Anyway, to the meat of the thing: Johnson's departure comes as something of a surprise since the NFL won't know what to do with him. Johnson was a hyped recruit with the sort of squat, tree-trunk build that makes terrific pro tailbacks but has been something of a disappointment at USC. His freshman year saw three carries and though he led the Trojans in rushing as a junior it was with 705 yards. He's split time with Joe McKnight, Allen Bradford, and the rest of USC's embarrassment of riches at tailback, never established himself as a game-in, game-out threat, and seems destined to go in the middle rounds when some team or another decides he's better than leftovers from Hampton.

In this, he is the anti-Gerhart. Toby Gerhart made the logical decision to take his violent running to the NFL as soon as it was a viable option despite the fact he's not a first rounder this year. He won't be a first rounder next year; he'll still be Toby Gerhart. The only thing that can happen to him is an injury. Johnson could use the additional seasoning to prove himself and make a bigger signing bonus. He should probably return unless he thinks there's no room in the Trojans' increasingly thin backfield.

That may be the case, actually. With McKnight and Bradford returning and USC adding its usual array of hyped recruits (Dillon Baxter is the new hotness), Johnson may just want to get on with things.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.