re: 2019 Football Recruiting Thread - Auburn Goes 4/7 & Land Brothers

quote:

---

AUBURN, Ala. — Ja’Varrius Johnson’s fast rise in the recruiting world took a major step forward Friday.

The Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) High School wide receiver visited Auburn two weeks ago and picked up an offer from Mississippi State last week. He took another visit to the Plains on Friday for a camp. He picked up an offer from the Tigers, too.

Johnson took it to the next level, however.

The speedy in-state wide receiver — who is sure to pick up more offers this summer — committed to Auburn on Friday. He became the ninth commitment in the 2019 class and the second wide receiver, joining Hoover (Ala.) wide receiver George Pickens.

Johnson played his junior season at St. Clair Co. (Ala.) and transferred to Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) this offseason.

Johnson has emerged recently on Auburn’s radar, and the Tigers staff made sure to seal the deal before other top programs got in on his recruitment. His highlight tape tells the story of why coaching staffs are impressed by him. At the Auburn camp on Friday, Johnson dazzled coaches with his breakaway speed.

The one uncertainty about Johnson may be his size. At 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, he’s not a big-bodied receiver like Pickens. That didn’t scare away Auburn coaches, however, who saw his big-play ability at St. Clair Co. that will only increase in production for that electric Hewitt-Trussville offense. He hauled in 6 touchdowns in the spring game.

Auburn’s plan has always been to take two wide receivers in this class. The emphasis, to this point, has been on Georgia commit Jadon Haselwood. Johnson’s addition won’t change the Tigers’ plans with Haselwood, but it gives Auburn a security blanket of a two-receiver class if Haselwood opts to stick with the Bulldogs.

---

quote:

---

As if his four-touchdown spring game performance Friday night (video above) wasn't enough evidence, Ja'Varrius Johnson continues to turn heads of late.

The Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trussville standout, playing wide receiver and cornerback for the Huskies, has enjoyed a monster spring on the recruiting trail. He hit the 15-offer mark during the week and may continue to add scholarship tenders as he settles into a role at the tail-end of his junior year.

"He's only now about to blow up," one Hewitt-Trussville coach told 247Sports of the rising-senior athlete. "He's a freak."

Johnson scored three touchdowns from his traditional wide receiver spot Friday night against Gadsden (Ala.) City High School, but he added an 85-yard interception return for a score while working at the position more and more college coaches are considering with the 5-foot-10, 165-pound prospect -- cornerback.

The former Odenville (Ala.) St. Clair County athlete, who enrolled at Hewitt-Trussville earlier this year, is open to playing on either side of the football despite immense experience and comfort as a traditional wide receiver or in the slot.

"They're just asking if I could play corner, stuff like that," Johnson said. "I tell them 'yes sir.' They're asking if I can play both sides, return man, positions like that."

Florida Atlantic offered the three-star prospect on Tuesday, following Southern Miss and Western Carolina the week prior. But it's the in-state programs, each of which offered much earlier, commanding the attention of one of the Yellowhammer State's most explosive prospects.

"I like Troy, UAB, the ones that show me the most love," he said.

The recruiting process, which is still fairly new for Johnson, is likely to have more twists and turns ahead depending on how many new programs jump in over the next several weeks. The junior held just one offer, from Troy, entering this year. He has visited the Trojan program, as well as Tennessee, Kentucky, UAB and others in the region.

The next trip he makes has yet to be scheduled, though some of the programs on his list may soon face elimination.

"I'll probably narrow my list near the end of the summer," he said. "It's about how I fit in or if I fit in, a school that feels like home where I can get the best education."

The industry-generated 247Sports Composite has yet to rate Johnson, but he is among the top wide receiver projections in the state on 247Sports. He is currently the No. 71 overall prospect in the state on the network, although he is likely to shoot up the list as the 2018 season inches closer.

Hewitt-Trussville High School is coming off of a second-straight undefeated regular season in Alabama's highest classification (7A) and figures to be a state champion contender once again this fall.

---

quote:

---

AUBURN | Ja’Varrius Johnson didn’t need much time to think about his new offer.

Minutes after Auburn extended an offer to Johnson on Friday, the wide receiver from Hewitt-Trussville accepted it.

“I want to thank coach Gus Malzahn for the opportunity to be an Auburn Tiger,” Johnson said. “100% committed to Auburn University.”

Johnson received the offer from Auburn after a standout performance at camp. Johnson ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and was dominant in 1-on-1s at the Tigers’ High School Camp I.

“The camp went good, getting to know Coach (Kodi) Burns and how he coaches,” Johnson said. “I was able to run routes with him and he could see how I do."

Johnson committed to Auburn over offers from Mississippi State, Troy, UAB and Arkansas State, among others.

"It is the campus, the system and the coaches,” Johnson said. “I fit in Auburn. I fit in with the way they run the offense."

Johnson is Auburn’s ninth commitment in the 2019 class and second wide receiver, joining Hoover four-star George Pickens.

Johnson, playing at St. Clair County as a junior, had 72 receptions for 1,224 and 17 touchdowns in 11 games.

---

quote:

---

Unless its an exception for Haselwood I don't see how we will have the room for any other WRs

1 RB
4 OL
5 DL
2 LBs
1 CB
1 S

That's 14 with us potentially taking another S, CB, RB, LB or Haselwood if he were to flip.. Unless I just have the numbers wrong I don't see the room for any other WR's

---

quote:

---

Doesn't sound like Johnson will affect AU's pursuit of any other elite WR prospects. I think it just came down to fact the staff was that impressed with him today

---

quote:

---

Kolbi Fuqua situation this year where they might end up having to take a grey shirt depending on who commits.

---

quote:

---

don't know... Tell us?

Marcus Davis
Ryan Davis


Is that it?

Stanton Truitt maybe?

---

quote:

---

Entering the heart of summer, Auburn’s football program appears to be in a good place on the recruiting trail.

After a strong six-week run, the Tigers have eight total commitments and the No. 20 class rankings. The commits have an average rating of 4-stars, which is quite good.

Tight end Luke Deal of Greenwood (S.C.) Emerald, who committed to Auburn on May 25 over Notre Dame and Michigan, was the latest to join the class. As of now — and this is strictly an educated guess — it looks like Auburn will add about 15 or 16 recruits to the list before all is said and done.

At quarterback, the Tigers have 4-star recruit and Elite 11 finalist Bo Nix of Pinson Valley (Ala.) committed. They’re probably done there. But elsewhere, the Auburn staff has a lot of work remaining.

On the offensive line, you could see Auburn add up to four more recruits. One the defensive line, the Tigers don’t yet have any commitments, but appear to be strong contenders for several top targets. At running back, Auburn may only take one prospect and Noah Cain of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy appears to be the biggest target at this time. At receiver, the Tigers probably will add only one more. At linebacker, they have 5-star Owen Pappoe committed, but that leaves a couple spots open. And in the secondary, you could see Auburn take two or three more.

Who could be the next recruit to join the Auburn commit list? Here are some candidates.

---