Johnson talks new USC offer

Keyshawn Johnson Jr., has been around the USC program basically all his life and now the Trojans have offered the 2017 wide receiver a scholarship.

Johnson, along with his father, Keyshawn, who starred for USC and was a No. 1 draft pick, visited with the USC coaching staff on Friday and that's when the Calabasas, Calif., standout landed the offer during a lengthy conversation with coach Steve Sarkisian.

"I got there around 1 p.m. and we went up and met with coach (Tee) Martin and coach Sark and I went to talk with coach Sark," Johnson said.

"He basically told me that just because your name is Keyshawn Johnson, Jr., is not the reason why they were offering me. He's offering me off what he's seen and he saw me progress from my freshman year to sophomore year and he said the sky is the limit in terms of me getting better.

"He wanted to offer me a scholarship officially and he said every time I come to USC to act like my dad has never gone there and if I see him on a wall or something to not worry about that and to worry about now and to know I'm not getting an offer because of him."

Johnson admits that the USC offer is something special in his recruitment but that he's also formulated a top 12 and will consider all those schools equally. Still being a sophomore, Johnson has ample time for a decision but wants to get it done around this time next year.

USC is right in the thick of things.

"It's big because it's the University of Southern California," Johnson said. "It's one of the best traditional schools with 11 national championships, five Heisman Trophy winners. It's big to know that I could be a part of that.

"Every offer is a blessing regardless if it's USC or any other school. Any school would be a blessing and USC is a blessing and I'm grateful that coach Sark thinks I'm good enough to fit in his program and offer me a scholarship."

The top 12 for Johnson (in no order) is Clemson, Ohio State, Arizona State, Arizona, USC, UCLA, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama, Miami and Texas.

Johnson's next step is to further research all his favorites, see where he fits best and the 2017 prospect said he would prefer to get something done sooner in his high school career.

"The reason I want to do top 12 is because I don't want to be the hat person who picks that way and wastes time for people," Johnson said. "I want to know where I want to go and as far as I'm concerned the top 12 I picked are the best programs where I feel I can fit in with great tradition, great atmosphere and overall just great schools.

"I want to end my recruitment by the middle of next year and just be done with it, know where I'm going to go and start building a relationship with the coaches and the players and the whole community. This is one step closer to my commitment."

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