Will Johnson lays out his game plan

Osseo, Minn., three-star tight end Will Johnson took his first official visit of the recruiting process this past weekend to Minnesota, and came away saying the trip to the in-state school went very well.

The 6-7, 245-pound Johnson will now immediately turn around and take his second official visit of the process this weekend.

"I'm leaving on Friday to go on an official visit to West Virginia," Johnson said. "I've heard a lot of good things about Morgantown as far as its football atmosphere. I'd just like the chance to get to know the people I will be spending the next four to five years with. I'd just like to get a feel for the way the team is and how they mix with each other."

After returning from Morgantown, Johnson has a decision to make. Will he take any of his three remaining official visits, or settle in and make a commitment?

"I probably will end up taking more officials," Johnson said. "I don't know if I will end up taking all five. If I do, it kind of depends on who. A lot of these schools are saying, 'We will offer,' so they're not all locked in offers. If I feel after the [West Virginia] visit that one of those schools intrigues me a lot or has a lot of potential, I'll definitely take the trip."

The "who" consists of a constantly evolving group of teams. He picked up scholarship offers from more than a dozen schools during the course of his recruitment, but is also receiving new interest from several schools following his senior season. At this point, he does not have any of his remaining official visits locked in to any school.

"I have to try and decide between Oklahoma, Miami and I have been talking to Michigan State lately. If they were to offer, I'd probably want to take an official visit there," Johnson said. "Oregon has been up and just recently Central Florida has been at our school a few times and they would like me to come down. I think that is probably the mix of schools right now."

The two programs that are definitely in the mix of schools right now are Minnesota and West Virginia. The only question is whether they are the top two or whether they will be joined by other programs in the coming weeks.

"Those are the two teams that have been recruiting me for awhile," Johnson said. "I'm not saying I am set on one or the other, those are just two that are locked in. Hopefully I'll have three more that I really do like and have offers from."

Johnson is playing basketball for his school this winter. He is juggling these official visits with his basketball schedule, but said his basketball coach has been very supportive of his recruitment and allowing him to do what is necessary before National Signing Day.