USC is one of the favorites of CB RJ Johnson (6-1 180) of McDonough, GA as head coach Shane Beamer and secondary coach Torian Gray have worked overtime to impress the major talent with what they have to offer. Johnson visited USC for a junior day and returned to watch a spring practice. Gray and Beamer have kept up steady contact and have certainly earned his affection.
“They are great, I love all the coaching staff,” Johnson said. “Coach Gray came down to see me play in the spring. He came to our spring game. Coach Beamer and they have been showing a lot of love throughout this recruiting process. They are just a great group of guys. They are very good at recruiting, and they know their Xs and Os. Coach Gray is a great DB coach. He knows how to play that defensive back position. He can get my game to the next level.”
Johnson said Gray has been impressed with pretty much everything he brings to the field.
“He loves that I’m a long, physical cornerback,” Johnson said. “I can play in space. I can play man coverage. I can come up and tackle. I can play anywhere in the secondary, and he loves that. I got the chance to go to South Carolina for a junior day, and in March I got a chance to watch them practice and sit down and talk with the coaches. It was really great. I love the practices, Coach Gray, he’s a great coach. He’ll get after you. He says how it is. He loves his players and puts them all in the right position to be successful.”
While in Columbia to watch that spring practice, Johnson got the chance to sit down with Beamer and talk one-on-one about how he would fit into the program should he make the Gamecocks his choice.
“Me and him had a really good talk with the family when I went up there this spring,” Johnson said. “He told me how much they love me, how much they want me there in Columbia. I’m loving on South Carolina. They are definitely in my top schools. I’m loving South Carolina. We’ve built a great relationship over time.”
Johnson recently named a top ten of USC, Kentucky, Florida, Arkansas, LSU, Rutgers, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Wake Foret and Louisville. He has set June official visits with Arkansas and Rutgers and also plans to set officials with USC and Florida.
Johnson said he plans to narrow his list to five or three this summer and then announce a decision in August.
