FSU leads for 4-star Johnson
Four-star athlete Jaquan Johnson of Miami (Fla.) Killian says his leader is Florida State, with Miami a close second and Florida a close third. South Carolina and Louisville round out his top five.
"It's a slim lead," the 5-foot-10, 172-pound Johnson said. "Miami's right there, Florida - it's all neck and neck."
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South Carolina also entered the picture after a visit last weekend.
"I loved the place," he said. "I met the players and coaches and film studied with them, watched a scrimmage. It was exciting. They want me there. I loved the campus tour, I got to see the whole nine yards - the campus, weight room, locker room."
Johnson said Florida State is his current leader because of his relationship with current Seminoles players Ermon Lane, Dalvin Cook and Jesus Wilson.
"I took a visit in the summer for a camp and just loved it," he said. "I already knew some of the players and they kept in my ear. I watched them practice and it was nice."
Johnson also has a good relationship with Seminoles assistant Tim Brewster.
"I talk to him and they want me bad," he said. "They told me they do play freshman and I saw it last year with some of their freshman starters."
The hometown Hurricanes have been in the mix the longest.
"They've been on me since my tenth grade year," he said. "They want me bad and I know all the players their too."
The other in-state school Johnson's considering is Florida, where he has a relationship with Gators assistant Travaris Robinson.
"T-Rod wants me bad," he said. "He said they have me No. 1 on their board. He said they want me to come around more. We talk it up."
The Cardinals - a program that rounds out his top five - is a school that only recently entered the picture.
"That's a school that just got on my radar," he said. "I'm close friends with Trumaine Washington and he said he loves it up there. He said the coaches are straightforward and teach him everything. He told me to give them a shot and I will. He's inside telling me exactly what's going on."
There's a strong likelihood Johnson's top five will change. He said he wants to take officials to Alabama and LSU - two schools currently outside of his favorites. He also plans on officially visiting South Carolina and Louisville.
He hasn't planned out the dates for his official visits nor are they set in stone, but he'd like to wrap up that process as soon as possible, then make a decision shortly thereafter.
"I don't have much time," he said. "I'm graduating early, so I need to have my school ready and focus on them once I'm ready."
Johnson finished last season with 75 tackles, 5 forced fumbles and 1 interception, which was returned for a touchdown. He also had five receiving touchdowns.
Adam Krohn is a Southeast Region football recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. You can click here to follow him on Twitter.