Apr 21, 2017 4 min read

Sometime next week, Dorian Johnson is likely to become the first Belle Vernon High School graduate to be taken in the NFL draft since Bill Contz was chosen in 1983 by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round.

It will be a dream come true for Johnson, a 2013 Belle Vernon graduate who started four years at Pitt, and he is trying to be patient.

“I am a little nervous, but excited to see what the future holds for me and my family,” said Johnson, who began playing football at the age of five. “It just hit me that things are going to be happening really quick.”

Johnson was flown to California last week to visit with the Chargers, and it was his third team visit, following Miami and New Orleans.

“I got in late so they took me right to the hotel,” he said. “When I woke up, I had breakfast with some assistants and personnel people. After we had breakfast, they took me to the facility and toured me around.”

“I was introduced to more staff, had lunch, and talked offense. Then I watched film with the head coach (Anthony Lynn), had dinner, and then was taken to the airport. I feel that all three visits went really well.”

Johnson said the feedback he received from the film sessions was that NFL coaches liked what they saw of Johnson and how he was utilized at Pitt.

“When we watched films, some of their combo blocks and schemes were similar to what we ran at Pitt,” he said.

Johnson took part in the NFL Scouting Combine that was held in Indianapolis Feb. 28 through March 6.

“For the most part, I was happy with how I did, although I thought my numbers could have been better,” he said. “I ran a 5.2 40-(yard dash) and benched 225 pounds 22 times.

“I did well in position drills, the meetings and in interviews.”

Since the combine ended, Johnson has kept busy. Pitt held its Pro Day March 22, though Johnson suffered a slight setback as he pulled a groin muscle.

“The groin is fine now,” he said. “It took a week or two to recover, but I stayed off of it and let it heal up. Now I am working out and trying to stay in shape.”

Not only did Johnson visit the Chargers, Dolphins and Saints, but several teams sent coaches to watch individual workouts.

“Some teams came in to work me out and to have meetings,” he said. “Baltimore and Tampa Bay were in and I had meetings with those two, Arizona, New Orleans and New England.”

Johnson also met with his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I met with them after the pro day,” he said. “I spoke with (general manager) Kevin Colbert and (offensive line coach) Mike Munchak.”

When asked if this process compared to Johnson’s recruitment when he was going through the process of picking a college, he provided a quick answer.

“It is totally different,” he said, “as you don’t have a choice for where you are going.

“It is more professional and more like a job interview. In college, you could visit a school and talk all you wanted and it was your decision and you had an understanding. With this, it is unknown.”

Johnson said the coaching staff at Pitt has been helpful, especially head coach Pat Narduzzi and offensive line coach John Peterson.

“They have been supporting me through the process,” Johnson said.

Johnson is represented by Athletes First, an agency that also represents many NFL players, such as Aaron Rodgers, Josh Newman, Jamaal Charles, and Clay Matthews.

As far as when Johnson will be selected, most draft experts have Johnson pegged as a second-day selection in the three-day draft that will be held April 27-29. Johnson said he hopes to be selected in the second round.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., in his latest mock draft, has Johnson going in the third round at pick No. 95 to the Atlanta Falcons.

Regardless of where Johnson, who is a four-credit internship away from his college degree in Administration of Criminal Justice, ends up going in the draft, he knows how fortunate he is to be living out his dream.

“I am glad to have this opportunity in front of me,” he said. “And I am truly blessed.”