Texas ATH picks up in-state offer

Friendswood, Texas is one of the top-ranked teams in the state. The Houston-area school is 9-1 heading into the playoffs. One big reason for the Mustangs' success is running back Johnathon Johnson. With his speed, the junior is a threat in both the running back the passing game

Colleges have taken notice of the 5-foot-9, 170-pound athlete. Johnson has been receiving plenty of attention from schools and very recently picked up an offer from an in-state program.

"I've been talking to (Texas) Tech and last week they offered me," Johnson said. "They actually called my coach and then I gave coach (Chad) Scott, the running backs coach, a call. I was just talking to him and then he told me they wanted to offer me a full ride. I didn't see that coming at all."

The Red Raiders evaluated Johnson both in person and on film but he was actually unaware of it for some time.

"Coach Scott, he came down to one practice," he said. "My coach then sent them some film. I didn't even know it, to be honest, until I got a letter telling me they had received it and would be getting back to me. I've been talking to them for a while and maybe a month after sending them film, I received the offer."

The talented playmaker has a former teammate on the Texas Tech roster in redshirt freshman quarterback Jacob Karam.

"I played with Karam my freshman year," he said. "I played a couple games on varsity that year. I haven't talked to him about Tech yet, though. I plan to because he and my brother are pretty good friends. Before I make any decision, I'm definitely going to talk to him."

Johnson is also being recruiting by another in-state school and he recently took a visit to check them out on a game day.

"I've been to (Texas) A&M on kind of an unofficial visit," he said. "I went up there for their game against Tech and checked out their weightroom and stuff. I'm pretty interested in them. I like their campus and their fans. They have a cool stadium and everything. I've been talking to them for a while but I'm not sure if an offer is coming or anything."

Johnson has played numerous positions at Friendswood so it is no surprise that schools are not quite sure exactly where they play to use him yet.

"Tech said they were recruiting me as an athlete and I could either play slot or running back," he said. "I'm really comfortable in both because, my sophomore year, I was mainly slot. They moved me to running back this year. I pretty much like them both the same."

Though it is still very early in the recruiting process, Johnson admits that a couple of schools stand out at the moment.

"I like Oregon a lot but I've only received one letter from them so far," he said. "I want to stay in a spread offense and I like what they run there. I like Tech a lot and A&M too. I've been getting a lot of stuff from Oklahoma State and I like them too but I really haven't looked into them that much yet. I guess you could say Tech and Oregon are my main two right now."

In 10 games this season Johnson has rushed for 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns. He has added 30 receptions for 367 yards and four more scores for the Mustangs.