Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

Like plenty of young wide receivers, Chris Godwin grew up admiring Calvin Johnson.

He watched his games, he mimicked his catches, but never did Godwin imagine being in the spot he was earlier this month, face-to-face with one of the best pass catchers of his generation while preparing for the NFL combine.

Godwin, who led Penn State to an 11-3 record this year and finished third in the Big Ten in receiving yards, spent time working out and watching film with the retired Detroit Lions receiver at the EXOS training facility in Gulf Breeze, Fla.

“It was an incredible experience," Godwin said. "Obviously, Calvin being the accomplished receiver that he is, he has a lot of knowledge to share. I was just trying to do the best that I could to soak up all the information that I could from him and try to implement little things that he was teaching me into my game."

Godwin said the meeting, which spanned several hours over two days, was arranged by his agent, Eugene Lee. He and Johnson met for a get-to-know-you dinner at the Grand Marlin in Pensacola Beach. The next morning, after Godwin's regular EXOS workout, the two spent three or four hours running routes on the field and reviewing film in the classroom.

Godwin called the experience "pretty surreal" and said Johnson gave him workout and route-running tips and an honest critique of his game.

"One of the things he said he liked about my game was just my ability to kind of attack the ball, and he said he liked how fluid I looked when I was running my routes," Godwin said. "He said just how aggressive I was with going and playing the ball -- and kind of shedding off defenders was something that he liked about my game.

“And there’s like little things he told me that I can improve on. He was telling me how to run different routes better, how to set up defensive backs better. Like, small details -- whether it’s, like, top of the route or showing a defender one thing when you’re going to do another thing. Just things to make it so I’m getting in and out of my routes faster or I’m selling the defensive back what I want him to see."

Johnson did not respond to an email seeking comment for this story, but he posted a photo on Instagram calling Godwin "a coaches dream" who's "always striving to be better."

In his Instagram profile, Johnson, who retired a year ago as the Lions' all-time leading receiver, now refers to himself as an "independent consultant for athletes looking to make the next level."

"He was one of the guys I really looked up to growing up," Godwin said. "He’s such a humble guy but he’s a hard worker. He had so much knowledge to share with me and, just being that I looked up to him and always watched what he did and was just impressed by what he was able to do, being able to really sit down with him and be able to pick his brain, it was awesome."

Johnson cemented his reputation as one of the best prospects in the 2007 NFL draft with a blazing 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the combine 10 years ago. Godwin said he's hoping to use this week's combine as a similar steppingstone.

A mid-round prospect who left school after his third season, Godwin is one of the most accomplished receivers in Penn State history. He finished second to Michigan State's Aaron Burbridge in receiving yards as a sophomore, and he joined Bobby Engram and Allen Robinson (Orchard Lake St. Mary's) as the only players in Nittany Lions history with a 1,000-yard receiving season.

Though his numbers dipped slightly this year -- he had 69 catches for 1,101 yards in 2015, and 59 catches for 982 yards last season -- Godwin said it was a better year overall.

"My main thing is trying to do anything that I can to help the team," Godwin said. "That’s why, if you watch the film, you’ll see me out blocking downfield for running backs, receivers, in the run game, and then just doing whatever I can in the pass game to get open. So yeah, statistically, my numbers dropped a bit, but I’ll trade that for our team success any day."

Listed at 6-feet-1 and 205 pounds, Godwin said he expects to run a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash this week, which will answer one burning question scouts have about his game.

"I definitely think I’ll be able to show teams -- not only teams, but also the world -- that I do have speed," Godwin said. "I think that’s been a question of mine, and I understand why, but it’s not something that I’m worrying about. I understand that I have speed. A lot of times, it can appear as if I don’t, just because I’m a strider, and so it may not look like I’m moving fast, at times. But I definitely believe I have speed, and it’s something I’ve been showing here at EXOS."

Godwin won't necessarily be able to show off the other tips Johnson gave him at this week's combine, things such as properly positioning his body to ward off a defender. But he said he and Johnson have stayed in touch since their training session and it's a resource he plans to use going forward.

"I think it’s cool that he was able to come work out with me and I was thankful for the opportunity," Godwin said. "But I think it’s awesome that he’s willing to stay in touch and to help me with whatever that I need, any questions that I have, things of that nature. He’s a great guy. I’m sure you know that, but he’s a great guy behind closed doors, as well."

Detroit Lions free agency preview: Wide receivers and tight ends

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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