Springfield (OH) Springfield LB Antwuan Johnson committed to Michigan
Springfield (OH) Springfield linebacker Antwuan Johnson, a 2018 prospect, committed to Michigan on Monday evening. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Kentucky, and Louisville.
Johnson is 6’1″, 210 lbs. He claims a 4.89 forty and a 4.3 shuttle.
RATINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: Unranked
Scout: Unranked
247 Sports: 4-star, 91 grade, #3 ILB, #82 overall
Hit the jump for more on Johnson’s commitment.
Johnson was offered by the Wolverines in late January. He made his way up to Michigan for a visit a couple weekends ago, and he was very high on the program when he left his visit. However, he said that as a 2018 recruit, he had a lot of time to make a decision. So it was a bit of a surprise that he pulled the trigger almost two full years before National Signing Day for the 2018 class.
Johnson is a stoutly built inside linebacker prospect. He is thick in the lower body and should continue to fill out over the next few years. Physically, his biggest asset is his ability to stop runners in their tracks. He does a good job of running through contact, lowering his hips and driving through the ball carrier. I also noticed that he does a great job of getting his head out of the way when he tackles, something that may prolong his career and keep him healthy. Johnson plays physically at the point of attack and uses his hands well to shed blockers. When he plays downhill, he fills the hole aggressively against the run.
What Johnson lacks – and this is why his early offer surprised me somewhat – is great athleticism. He does not have great straight-line speed or even short-area quickness. He is an inside linebacker through and through. Usually, those types of players seem to have to wait a little longer before offers from big programs come. He also takes some false steps and does not read plays as quickly as one would like. However, he was just a sophomore this past season, and some of those things come with experience.
Overall, Johnson is a solid inside linebacker prospect, but not a flashy one. We will see how he develops over the next couple of seasons. Michigan needs future linebacker contributors in a bad way, and 2016 did not do a great deal to help at the linebacker positions. With two years before NSD, it’s hard to say what the linebacker situation will look like when he arrives on campus. However, I do expect him to play on the inside and be someone who can eventually play around 240 lbs.
Johnson is the first commit for Michigan in the 2018 class. The 2018 class currently only has room for a projected 15 players (LINK), but that number will fluctuate in the next couple years. He’s a classmate of tight end/defensive lineman Leonard Taylor, who also has an offer from the Wolverines and has visited Ann Arbor. Michigan has not had any other scholarship players from Springfield, Ohio.
TTB Rating: Will not be determined until final 2017 ratings are decided
You need to login in order to vote
Interesting, I would think a 2018 top 100 LB would have pretty good athleticism to be ranked that highly.
And speaking of rankings, any time frame on when final 2016 rankings will be done so 2017 rankings can start? Interested to see how opinions change with a full class and after senior tape/bowl games.
You need to login in order to vote
He’s not a bad athlete, but he’s more of a run-stuffer than a space player. It seems like most early offers at linebacker/safety go to the really good athletes, and then offers for true middle linebacker types tend to lag behind a bit.
You need to login in order to vote
That’s my take, as well. I would think he displays outstanding awareness of the role of the lber to be rated that highly, given his forty time and his size. He is a thick kid, as evidenced by his photos and is probably a bitch to knock off his intended path. I am guessing the coaches and the sites alike predict he’ll come it at no less than 230-235 and he has no wiggle room as to speed. He must maintain that which he has and hopefully the extra three years – counting the RS year will enable him to gain a half step or so.
At this point in his recruiting cycle – a full year before total focus on that class, I’d like to see us entertaining players that will be close to his physical size but possessing both more speed and quickness, and probably for the same reasons as you. I think with superior coaching, and we have that, kids who measure better athletically, i.e., speed, vertical and horizontal leaping ability, shuttle times, basically anything that will indicate a likelihood for superior performance within that first 15 yards are probably at a premium. I am wondering if this is why the staff asked both him and Harris from Alabama to not be in such a hurry to commit. It indicates coaches have far more options than they did at this point last season – and we don’t want any more Swenson replays – so there is a reason, especially when we want to begin snagging kids from both states.
I think some of those offers that went out before Brown came aboard are being re-evaluated because he might be seeking a completely different type of athlete. However, and this is what gives me cause for pause. He is, based on my knowledge, ranked by one service only. If they have it right, and I guess we’ll find out when other start releasing their evals, I can’t see us being in position to turning down a kid that is able to play the position in a manner such a ranking would indicate. I can’t see us backing of a Sword, Harris, Brackens, Anderson type player because all those listed certainly proved much more than capable when surrounded by those of equal talent.
You need to login in order to vote