With the NFL Draft slated for April 25-26, this is the 17th of daily looks at a player who could be on the New England Patriots’ radar. All profiles can also be found at projo.com/patriots.

Player: Herman Johnson, Louisiana State

Height and Weight: 6-foot-7, 364 pounds

Position: Offensive guard

Hometown: Olla, La. (Denton HS)

Senior year: Started 13 games; allowed 3 ½ sacks on 291 pass plays

Career: Started 38 of 52 games; credited with 29 touchdown-resulting blocks

Honors: Associated Press first-team All-American; two-time first-team All-SEC

NFL Combine

5.50 seconds (40-yard dash)

21 reps (bench press)

26 inches (vertical)*

* -- At LSU pro day

Is he a fit for the Patriots?

“Fit” might not be the right word for Johnson, who has likely had trouble fitting into things since the day he was born. He remains the largest baby ever born in the state of Louisiana, at 15 pounds, 14 ounces, and despite having lost 20 pounds in the last year, Johnson is still the largest player in this year’s draft.

Johnson played at left guard during his time with the Tigers, but New England has a pretty good player at that position in Logan Mankins. Right guard Stephen Neal has been slowed by injuries in recent seasons. He is surprisingly athletic for such a massive man, and his long arms and large hands help him lock onto defenders; when he does so, he usually has little trouble winning the battle.

However, Johnson has only one full season as starter under his belt, and he has battled his weight throughout his playing days. If he can focus in the weight room (LSU coaches never had a problem with him listening or taking instruction) and translate his natural strength into playing strength, he could become a force in the NFL.

smanza@projo.com