Antwuan Johnson, Wolverine

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

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