USC secondary coach Torrian Gray likes CB RJ Johnson (6-1 180) of McDonough, GA because he is tall and has excellent cover skills. Gray offered Johnson in January and plays to pursue him for the 2023 class. Johnson is one of several 2023 prospects the Gamecocks are recruiting from Eagles Landing Christian Academy. He got a phone call from Gray on January 20th and that conversation led to an offer.
“I was extremely happy when Coach Gray gave me that call,” Johnson said. “He came up to my school the day before for a visit, him and the head coach. That’s when they talked to us, and they wanted me to come up that weekend, but I couldn’t because I was already going to Wake Forest. When I got out of basketball practice, Coach Gray gave me that call and we talked for about 30 minutes, and after the call he offered me later on.”
Johnson camped at USC last summer and that’s when Gray and head coach Shane Beamer got a look at him. They saw someone they think would work well in their secondary.
“They say I’m very long and I have great ball skills,” Johnson said. “I’m a big DB. I’m a good cover man and have great size and speed.”
Johnson got a chance to check out the football facilities and the campus while in for camp. He did not attend a game last season, but he was aware of the kind of season the Gamecocks had in year one under Beamer.
“I’m very excited about what South Carolina is about to become in the next few years,” Johnson said. “It’s a great program that Coach Beamer has going up over there, and me and my teammates are extremely excited for what they have coming up.”
Johnson visited Georgia the last weekend of January. He also made visits to Kentucky and Louisville. He plans to get to USC in April for a spring practice.
Johnson was offered by Vanderbilt on Thursday. He also has offers from Boston College, Florida State, Georgia Tech, LSU, Duke, Florida, Temple, UCF, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Virginia, Indiana, Georgia State and Grambling. Soon, he’ll cut his list and the Gamecocks should be one to make it.
“South Carolina is definitely one of my top schools,” Johnson said. “Kentucky is up there, Wake Forest and Louisville. Those are the main schools that have been talking to me lately.”
Johnson wants to make his decision before his season if he can. He’s also a basketball player but at this point is leaning toward graduating early and enrolling in January.
