LaRoi Johnson's pro day workout was being watched by scouts from the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings, and the tight end from Malone College wanted to make a lasting impression.

So, he came up with a plan that he shared with his teammate, running back Bernard Payton, who also was participating in a "pro day" pre-draft audition, that took place March 20 at Mount Union College.

"I was set to run a post route," said Johnson, a Peabody High School graduate. "Beforehand, I said to my running back, 'I'm going to catch it one-handed.' I wanted to show everyone I was a good receiver with good hands."

He delivered, as promised. But almost a month later, Johnson still doesn't know if he made the impression he had hoped for.

"The scouts don't say much," he said. "They don't let you know what they're thinking. They just say, 'OK, nice meeting you.' I don't know if they liked me or disliked me. I couldn't read them. It's left me with a lot of sleepless nights since [the pro day], a lot of what ifs?"

Johnson, who grew up in Homewood then Stanton Heights, hopes his audition will help make him a late-round selection when the NFL draft takes place April 26-27.

Johnson, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound tight end, caught 39 passes for 417 yards and one touchdown during his senior season for Malone, an NAIA school located in Canton, Ohio. This followed a junior year, when he had 40 receptions for 305 yards and a touchdown.

This past season, Johnson was named to the first-team of the Mid-States Football Association, and will play in the second annual Victory Sports Network Senior Football Classic Saturday in Platte City, Mo. The game is considered a showcase for NAIA players with professional football aspirations.

"Honestly, it puts a smile on my face that someone is looking at me to become a professional football player," Johnson said. "Not everyone gets this chance. It's just an honor, to be quite honest. It's amazing to be a part of this process right now, to know my name is in the mix."

For Johnson, the dream of playing in the NFL became more of a reality toward the end of this season. That's when he started comparing his statistics to other tight ends in the country, at all levels.

The name that stood out was Notre Dame's John Carlson, who produced similar numbers in 2007 with 40 catches with 372 yards and three touchdowns.

"I really paid attention to Notre Dame," Johnson said. "That's a school that sends tight ends to the NFL. That's when I really thought to myself, 'I can do this.'"

The first step for Johnson was finding a place to showcase his talents.

He teamed up with Payton, and the two signed with Michael Puterbaugh, an agent with HOF Player Representatives in Canton. The group's goal was to secure a spot in a nearby pro day. Johnson and Payton eventually were invited to come to nearby Mount Union.

Scouts from the Browns, Vikings, Steelers and Giants were present to see a total of seven players work out.

"I was nervous with all the jumping and testing," Johnson said. "The vertical jump and broad jump are not my strongest areas. But once we started running, and I started hearing the times, I thought, 'OK, this is what I've been training for.' I was feeling confidence in myself."

Johnson said he will be at home in front of his television when the draft takes place.

"I'll be sitting there ... praying," he said.

If Johnson isn't drafted, he said he hopes to sign with a team as a free agent. If the NFL doesn't pan out, Johnson said he will look to the Canadian Football League.

"I think I'm NFL-worthy," Johnson said. "I look at the position of tight end, and there are not a lot of balanced guys. I consider myself a balanced tight end. I have the willingness to block, have good hands and run [good] routes."

Johnson, 23, said a professional football career didn't seem possible during his high school years. For starters, he didn't play for Peabody until he was a junior. As a senior, he said he had interest from colleges, but other factors intervened.

"I was a knucklehead," he said. "I didn't have the grades or the SAT scores, and people backed off."

After graduating from Peabody in 2003, Johnson attended Bacone College, an NAIA school in Muskogee, Okla., for a year before transferring to California (Pa.) for two seasons.

He then moved on to Malone, where he will graduate this summer with a degree in sports management.

"I've definitely taken the back door to this opportunity," Johnson said. "But this opportunity, it shows people who might have trouble with school, or who come from a city school, that it's still possible.

"You might not get the Division I scholarship you wanted, but you can make your dream a reality."