2015 Safety Johnson Preparing for The Opening

Tito Benach
4 min read
It’s been four years for 2015 safety Jaquan Johnson with the Killian (Fla.) Cougars and this year will be the one with the most effort.

“This last year I’m just training hard, getting prepared for the season and trying to win states and I’m trying to get everyones mind right.”

The Cougars recent couple years have been successful, but have fallen short in the playoffs. Johnson is trying to remind his team that it’s a process to become state champions.

“We’re taking it one day at a time, not thinking ahead and staying healthy, taking care of our bodies. We’re gonna come in ready for the season and ready to play.”

While the 5’11 180 pound defensive back is working out with his team, he’s also preparing for the upcoming Nike Opening event in Oregon where he’s excited to compete with some of the elite talent in the nation.

“I’m just looking forward to competing, it’s the best people in the nation so it’s going to be good to go up against them to see where my talent level is at as well as theirs.”

Johnson will not be the only South Florida product headed there as other prospects including Mark Walton and Jordan Cronkrite will be joining him.

“I just talked to Mark (Walton), he’s on my team from Booker T. He in-boxed me on twitter and we want to do well up there.”

As far as recruiting goes for the Killian star, it hasn’t changed much. When asked to describe it in one word:

“Hectic, I got coaches texting me on twitter all the time, sometimes all through the night and morning. They’re all really trying to get me to their school.”

While the main schools recruiting Johnson remain Miami, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina; a new school has emerged for the ball hawking safety and it features a former teammate.

“Louisville is recruiting me as well, Trumaine (Washington) is up there so I’m gonna take a visit up there and I’m gonna get it first hand how it is up there and there won’t be any sugarcoating.”

Alabama is a main school in Johnson’s recruitment and he is looking to take a visit there sometime soon.

“I still talk to Alabama, I was supposed to visit sometime this summer, if not I’m gonna take an official there for sure. They put you in the league, a lot of people go to the league from there.”

Johnson is also interested in learning from one College football’s most talented defensive coaches Kirby Smart.

“They put you in a system up there and they teach you technique, so I’m looking forward when I’m going up there to seeing it first hand.”

Another SEC team that is making a large push for Johnson is the Florida Gators. Defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson has made a great relationship with the South Florida playmaker and feels at home with him.

“Coach T-Rob is like another family member, so if I do go up there it’s gonna be like another home for me. The defense told me I’m gonna be coming down sticking the Nickel. I’m looking forward to that.”

The hometown Miami Hurricanes have made a big impression on Johnson and are constantly re-iterating how much of a priority he is for their team.

“I talk to all the coaches, they all text me on twitter. They want me bad, I go up there all the time, I’m used to the campus, it’s like home away from home. They say I’m number one on their board and they keep telling me they want me to play strong safety.”

When it comes to making a decision, once Johnson finishes his last set of visits and discusses it with his family, he will let the world know.

“Once I get a view of all the school, visit one more time and get a better idea and then sit down with my family and talk about it and they will go from there.”

When separating schools, a family feel will be most important for Johnson.

“I think a family, I want to be around a family that come to play everyday like I do going from the players to the staff.”
 

Comments (31)

Something feels off About him. We've been the "favorites" a while and really thought he would commit by now. Longer this takes usually not that great a sign for us but hey long long way till signing day.
 
I've noticed people posting about wanting him to commit already, but something tells me he's really intent on taking his visits. I would hold any concerns for the moment, but I didn't and wouldn't expect this to be a cake walk for Miami to land him.
 
Think he's ours but not going to be easy as some think. He's really looking at his options. Weighing everything out
 
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Visited every school once already. Needs to visit all a second time. Seems really torn between 3 schools. Alabama, UF, and UM. From what I heard, UF still leads.
 
Bama scares me the most. Jaquan is very smart and wants to win championships. He wants to go somewhere where he can improve every year. We win and he's in. We lose and he's gone.
 
Nick Saban > Al Golden
Kirby Smart > Mark D'Onofrio

They can't win a recruiting battle against them, His family & Friends will have to push him to Miami
 
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He told us why Bama has his interest, well coached, technique and League. It'll come down to his desire to stay home, friends and family or feeling he's guarantee a better shot at the league with Bama. Florida respected, but the variables with The U and Bama.
 
Nick Saban > Al Golden
Kirby Smart > Mark D'Onofrio

They can't win a recruiting battle against them, His family & Friends will have to push him to Miami

Artie Burns? Chad Thomas? AQM? Deon? I don't want to hear conspiracy theories to why we won. We won those battles.. Period.
 
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Get that"it's a business decision"feeling from him and that article. I think Bama lands him, had a lot of good things to say about their program and that everyone else is recruiting him real hard.
 
Here's to the Gators having the wheels come off again
 
Get that"it's a business decision"feeling from him and that article. I think Bama lands him, had a lot of good things to say about their program and that everyone else is recruiting him real hard.

lol Bama is not a threat here, UF is the one you need to be worried about.
 
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Can't blame the kid for taking his time/visits and seeing what the recruiting process is like. Also, seems like JJ has a good head on his shoulders and is a good humble kid. Wish him good luck wherever but I hope it's in his hometown at the U!
 
Its UM and UF and none in the lead, family will be the X-factor, he is very family oriented and wants to be around them
 
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