JUCO DT could see major offers
Though Hutchinson (Kan.) C.C. is known for its offense and star wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, the Blue Dragon defense was pretty stout this year as well. One of the anchors on that side of the ball was defensive tackle Toby Johnson.
A native of College Park, Ga., the 6-foot-4, 290-pound defender is only a year removed from his high school playing days at Banaker High. However, Johnson could very well move on to a four-year school in time to play next season.
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"I'm really supposed to be set to graduate next December," Johnson said, "but a lot of colleges are trying to see if I can graduate in May. This is my first year here but I got here last January so I have a semester head start. I'm just a freshman.
"I'm supposed to graduate in May. I'm really hoping I can. I'm trying to see how my grades are going to come out to see if I can do it."
On the recruiting front, Johnson's unclear status has slowed things down a bit but he is still hearing from several programs.
"I have a verbal offer from Minnesota, I believe," he said. "I've been hearing from a lot of schools. Tennessee has been recruiting me hard lately. I think they might be getting ready to offer me. Indiana has been looking at me hard too. So has KU."
Johnson is enjoying the attention now since he did not receive much of it a year ago.
"I didn't get any offers or anything in high school so I'm sort of trying to prove that schools overlooked me," he said.
While Johnson says he has no current favorites he does admit he wouldn't mind heading closer to home to finish his college career.
"I'm really hoping to hear from anyone," he said. "I'm really open but hopefully a lot of schools in the SEC start to contact me some more. I'd like to hear from Georgia and LSU. Florida wrote me on Facebook and Texas Tech has been writing me lately."