Daily Dawg Thread – 26Apr2019 – Class Of 2020 4-Star TE Theo Johnson – By Matthew Hall
The world of college football recruiting knows no bounds these days and as time has gone by, the depths that coaches, staff, and recruiters will go to in luring top talent that will make an impact on a program seems to have no apparent end point.
Now more than ever, the pursuit of such players comes in the form of extending offers to younger football athletes (i.e.those still in their middle school years), players that fill the rosters of the country’s JUCO or community colleges, or even outside of the country’s borders altogether.
The Georgia Football program is not outside of the realm of taking part in any of the aforementioned recruiting tactics and avenues and it was just last season that UGA OLB’s Coach Dan Lanning was heavily influential and critical in the recruitment of Jermaine Johnson. At that time and before his commitment to the University of Georgia, Johnson was the #1 junior college prospect in the nation (Independence Community College in Kansas).
More recently, the Dawgs have taken part in the latter of the non-traditional recruiting methods by looking north of the U.S. border in an attempt to court and land the #1 overall rated player in Ontario for the Class of 2020: 4-Star TE Theo Johnson. If one that hears such thinks that the idea of landing a top recruit from outside of the United States and internationally is far-fetched or improbable, think again. Johnson recently crossed the border and was a visitor at the Georgia Football spring game just a few short days ago on April 20, 2019.
So how did the trip from Ontario to Athens for G-Day 2019 go for the highly touted Canadian prospect?
The word is that Johnson had a positive visit in “The Classic City” and with his time in and around the Georgia Football program. He was purportedly seen hanging around some of the other more recent UGA commits and top “Red and Black” prospects at the spring game.
Tight Ends coach Todd Hartley apparently has had a cordial relationship with the Ontario star dating all the way back from his days in Miami when Johnson was a visitor to campus in the Sunshine State. Such connections can never be a bad thing as they equate to an extent of familiarity.
Johnson, who stands in at 6-6 and 245 pounds, immediately stands out and is an imposing figure on the gridiron. Aside from being the #1 overall player in Ontario for the Class of 2020, The Holy Names High School athlete (Windsor, Ontario) is also currently ranked the #5 overall tight end of his respective class per 247Sports Composite Rankings.
After a review of the tape on Johnson it is easily noticeable as to why he has become quite the commodity as a potential recruit in the American market of the college football landscape.
While he plays the tight end position and plays it very well, he has a great deal of speed and versatility of which one could easily mistake him for being a wide receiver if he/she did not know that tight end was his natural position.
He is tall, fast, has great hands, and possesses the ability to outwork the defense for receptions while in coverage. No matter if the route is a quick slant, wideout towards the sidelines, or deep down the field and along the lines, Johnson has the ability to come up big and make a play.
Complementing such attributes nicely is his capability and preparedness to be an effective blocker if it is needed.
One can only hope that his unofficial visit to Athens for G-Day left a big impression on him in a major way and that such will lead to further visits and ultimately a decision to “Commit To The G”.
Until this story unfolds, keep watch and stay tuned for more. oh, and as always, Go Dawgs!!!