CONROE, Tex. -- Programs are already scrambling to make headway with 2019 Rivals250 offensive lineman Tyler Johnson, who has been one of the most coveted Texas prospects in his class for some time now.

Naturally, the programs that recruit the state hardest appear to be the ones with the most invested in his recruitment, and many have thought Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M have taken the early lead with him. Johnson said that teams like TCU and Notre Dame have also made him a top priority, but another nearby program known for its success recruiting the Houston area could be the next team to make a charge with him: LSU.

“They came out here in the offseason and I got to meet Coach (Jeff) Grimes,” he said. “He gave me his number and I’ll talk to him for a bit and he’ll give the phone to Coach O [head coach Ed Orgeron]. My mom got to talk with him too and we have just been building our relationship.”

While not surprising, it’s clear that Johnson has paid special attention to the way offensive linemen are treated at the programs he’s been eyeing up. When it comes to LSU, his early impression is that the staff tries to give its big men the best experience it can.

“Coach Grimes is a good guy,” he said. “He treats the O-Line good and they have dinners like every week the linemen come over to his house. Coach O is a good coach and he’s real funny, so I like the whole group out there.”