Johnstone picks up big Pac-10 offer
Tyler Johnstone continues to pick up big-time offers after an outstanding performance at the recent Los Angeles NIKE Camp and this one from the Pac-10 could be the biggest to date.
Oregon has offered Johnstone, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound offensive tackle from Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton who also has Colorado, New Mexico and San Diego State on his list. Oregon State and Arizona State are also showing lots of interest.
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"I kind of expected it but to be honest I would never have imagined it would have come so soon," Johnstone said of the Oregon offer. "They were definitely showing a lot of interest but it seemed like I needed to show them a little bit more.
"I was planning to go to camp in June for them and (offensive line) coach (Steve) Greatwood came and watched a practice (Wednesday). He had the call in and he said he wanted to offer me and he talked to coach (Chip) Kelly so I should see it in the next couple days or so."
Johnstone was one of the best offensive linemen at the LA NIKE Camp and also has impressive junior season highlights that a family friend helped deliver to Greatwood, a perfect opportunity for the Ducks' coach to see what Johnstone could do. It might have helped land him the big Pac-10 offer.
"The NIKE Camp helped a lot," Johnstone said. "It got my name out there a little more. That kind of forced them to look at my highlight tape. My father has a work buddy here in Chandler who is good friends with coach Greatwood so he gave him my highlight tape directly.
"(Greatwood) saw it and called me and told me he loved it and he said I'm exactly what they need. A lot of it is the highlight tape but definitely the NIKE Camp had gotten my name out there, more than I anticipated."
As for Oregon, it will be seriously considered by Johnstone, who had the offer from Colorado before the NIKE Camp but has picked up the others since that performance. The weather is suitable since Johnstone has already lived in the Pacific Northwest and a program of that caliber cannot be ignored.
"It's an incredible program," Johnstone said. "Climate I don't have any problem with because I love the rain. I used to live in Washington. I was there until I was nine. That never bothered me. It's an incredible program. I do like them a lot."