Courtesy of Fresno State

FRESNO, Calif. – 2023 senior defensive back Carlton Johnson is set to represent Fresno State at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week at Lucas Oil Stadium. Johnson accepted his invitation after a stellar performance at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

The NFL invited a total of 321 prospects to attend this year’s combine. Johnson is one of just six athletes competing from a Mountain West institution. Colorado State (2), Wyoming (2) and Boise State (1) also have players competing this week. A full list of combine prospects can be found here.

The combine runs from Feb. 29 – Mar. 3. Defensive backs will participate in drills on Friday.

Fresno State has had a player represent the program at the NFL Scouting Combine for three-straight years now as QB Jake Haener and WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper went last year, and RB Ronnie Rivers participated in 2022. Johnson is the first Bulldog cornerback since A.J. Jefferson in 2010 to be invited to the Combine. He is the first defensive back overall since Derron Smith in 2015. A list of previous invitees can be found below.

Tentative Schedule

  • Thursday, February 29th, 3pm ET – Defensive Linemen and Linebackers
  • Friday, March 1st, 3pm ET – Defensive Backs, Tight Ends
  • Saturday, March 2nd, 1pm ET – Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers, Running Backs
  • Sunday, March 3rd, 1pm ET – Offensive Linemen

Athletes will participate in the following on-field drills:

  • 40-yard dash
  • Bench press
  • Vertical jump
  • Broad jump
  • Three-cone drill
  • 20-yard shuttle
  • 60-yard shuttle

Results
NFL Scouting Combine results can be found here throughout the week.

How to watch
NFL Scouting Combine Live Drills begins Thursday, February 29th, with exclusive LIVE coverage on NFL Network starting at 3pm ET. Full lineup below:

  • Thursday, February 29th, 3pm ET – Defensive Linemen, Linebackers
  • Friday, March 1st, 3pm ET – Defensive Backs, Tight Ends
  • Saturday, March 2nd, 1pm ET – Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers, Running Backs
  • Sunday, March 3rd, 1pm ET – Offensive Linemen

Live streaming of NFL Network is available across multiple devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app or NFL.com/watch for subscribers of participating NFL Network providers.

The NFL Scouting Combine is also available to stream across devices on NFL+. Sign up for NFL+ and get exclusive content from the NFL Scouting Combine.

A look back at 2023

Carlton Johnson: Johnson earned second team All-Mountain West honors this season, starting in 12 of 13 games played at cornerback. He led the team with four interceptions, including a program-record three interceptions at Arizona State (Sept. 16) all against different quarterbacks. His performance against the Sun Devils earned him a plethora of well-deserved honors as the MW Defensive Player of the Week, and the national player of the week selected by the Thorpe Award and the Bronko Nagurski Award. Johnson totaled 54 tackles, 1.0 TFL, four interceptions, seven pass breakups and one quarterback hurry this season.

Since the end of the season, Johnson participated in the Hula Bowl and the Reese’s Senior Bowl. The Moreno Valley native has only helped himself at each of his post-season all-star games. At the Senior Bowl, Johnson clocked the fastest speed by any player this season and the second-fastest speed in Senior Bowl history.

Fresno State NFL Scouting Combine Invitation History (Since 2010)

2023 Jake Haener (QB)*, Jalen Moreno-Cropper (WR)
2022 Ronnie Rivers (RB)
2021 —
2020 Netane Muti (OL)*, Mykal Walker (LB)*
2019 Jeff Allison (LB), Mike Bell (S), KeeSean Johnson (WR)*
2018 —
2017 —
2016 —
2015 Tyeler Davison (DL)*, Josh Harper (WR), Derron Smith (DB)*
2014 Davante Adams (WR)*, Isaiah Burse (WR), Derek Carr (QB)*
2013 Robbie Rouse (RB), Phillip Thomas (S)*
2012 Devon Wylie (WR)*
2011 Chris Carter (DL)*, Ryan Colburn (QB), Jamel Hamler (WR), Andrew Jackson (OL)*
2010 Seyi Ajirotutu (WR), A.J. Jefferson (CB), Robert Malone (P), Lonyae Miller (RB)

  * Drafted in the NFL Draft that season

“Fresno State Athletics – Elevate: Imagine the Possibilities” – The Elevate Campaign provides a visionary roadmap to enhance and construct a series of athletic facilities to help further position Fresno State Athletics for sustained competitive success nationally, while also further serving as a source of pride and economic growth throughout California’s Central Valley. For more information, visit GoBulldogs.com/elevate.