Meet the five-stars: Tyreke Johnson
There are five five-stars in our initial Rivals100 for the class of 2018. Here is an up-close look at one of those five-stars: safety Tyreke Johnson.
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Recruiting wrap: Johnson recently visited UCLA and has always been high on the Bruins. So while Jim Mora and company are in a nice early position, pulling Johnson out of SEC country will be difficult, as nearly every school in the country is after his commitment.
Analysts take: Johnson has been on everyone’s radar for years as he has always been a long, athletic prospect that is ahead of the curve physically and fundamentally. His quickness and blazing top-end speed complement his length. Johnson will play safety in college but appears at corner at times on the high school level. Johnson has the quickness to be a nightmare in man coverage but has the body type and the closing speed of a safety. He’s a versatile athlete that, at least at this juncture, looks like a can’t-miss prospect.
Why he’s a five-star: “Johnson can do it all on defense. He can cover on an island as a corner or play centerfield and use his ball skills, ability to read the play and closing speed to disrupt passing lanes. When he gets his hands on the ball, his elite straight-line speed makes him a threat to score from anywhere. I love the way he likes to hit either in the middle of the field or in run support.” – Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell
His coach says: “He’s a player that comes around once every 10 years. He’s very explosive with potential 4.3 speed. He’s 6-foot-2, long, very physical at the line of scrimmage. He also has the intelligence of a millionaire investor and carries a 3.9 GPA. Tyreke loves watching film and learning from other great DBs. Has 10 out of 10 closing speed.” – Trinity Christian assistant coach Gerard Ross
Odds and ends: Johnson received his first scholarship offer before he started high school and has consistently lived up to the hype created by his early debut as a recruiting commodity. His older brother, quarterback, De'Andre Johnson, signed with Florida State but was dismissed from the team last summer.
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