STRecruiting: USC takes advantage of an additional year of eligibility to sign former App State DB Ethan Johnson

Two weeks from opening day for the USC football team, head coach Shane Beamer has made a move to add another piece to the secondary. On Saturday afternoon, the Gamecocks announced the signing of free agent CB Ethan Johnson (5-11 195) who played four seasons at Appalachian State.

Because Johnson enrolled in 2022, he is eligible for a fifth year under the ruling out of Louisiana. He can begin practicing with the Gamecocks immediately. That is, of course, unless the NCAA is successful in getting that ruling overturned. But for now at least, the Gamecocks are adding a veteran corner who was one of the better players at his position in the Sun Belt Conference.

The two-time All-Sun Belt Conference performer, who entered the transfer portal on Thursday, was one of 16 players granted a TRO against the NCAA in Louisiana on Wednesday, allowing them to return for the 2026 college football season with a fifth year of eligibility. The case’s court date is scheduled for Aug. 31 in Louisiana’s 19th Judicial District Court.

Johnson, who is originally from Huntersville, N.C., spent the last four seasons with App State. Across his four seasons with the Mountaineers, he accounted for 140 total tackles, including 99 solo stops. He had 26 passes defended and two interceptions, as well as a forced fumble.

Johnson attended Hough High in Cornelius, where the Gamecocks have a pair of defensive back commitments for the 2027 class in Josh Dobson and Devin Jones.

Ethan Johnson App State Bio:

Career: Played in 47 career games, making 39 career starts … Totaled 141 tackles to go along with 30 passes defended, one interception, 5.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble … App State’s 2025 nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team (Service), Allstate Wuerffel Trophy (Service & Leadership) and Campbell Trophy (Academic Heisman).

2025: All-Sun Belt third-team performer … Appeared and started in all 13 games at cornerback … Recorded an interception against Georgia Southern in the JLab Birmingham Bowl …Finished the season with 13 pass breakups (tied for No. 2 nationally), 44 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
 
2024: Appeared in all 11 games, starting 10 at cornerback … Finished season with 25 tackles and three pass breakups … Responsible for a forced fumble against ECU, along with a QB hurry … Had a season-high four tackles against Georgia State, followed by two three-tackle performances against Marshall and Coastal Carolina.
 
2023: All-Sun Belt second team by the league … Started all 14 games at cornerback … Finished season with 56 tackles (42 solo), one interception, 11 pass breakups (sixth-most in the Sun Belt) and four tackles for loss … Made big interception, had two PBUs and allowed a completion percentage of just 35.7 while being targeted with 14 passes in the win at JMU to earn Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honors … Led team and all Sun Belt defenders with 953 defensive snaps … Season-high nine stops against Coastal Carolina … Among 20 Sun Belt corners targeted with at least 50 passes, ranked sixth with a coverage grade of 76.4 by PFF and ninth with a completion percentage of 58.3.

2022: Appeared in nine games and made two starts at defensive back as a true freshman … Started at corner in the finale against Georgia Southern and as one of three cornerbacks on the field to begin the Texas State game before leaving it with an early injury and missing the next three games … Totaled 16 tackles (13 solo) and one pass breakup … Season-high seven tackles at Georgia Southern (all solo) with one breakup and six catches allowed on 11 targets.

High School: Had three interceptions and 32 tackles as a senior for a Hough team that went 14-1 and reached a 4-A state semifinal … Part of a dominant defense that allowed less than 20 points in all 14 wins, gave up single-digit points in eight wins and produced two shutouts … Intercepted passes in wins against Myers Park, North Meck and Mallard Creek before posting a season-high six tackles in the state semifinal loss to Chambers … Played for coach Matthew Jenkins at Hough as a senior.