RB - Drake Johnson - AA Pioneer -- Thoughts?
I haven't heard too much about Drake Johnson, but was wondering if you think Michigan may end up offering him. I had a chance to watch him last year,and he looked great, scoring 6 touchdowns against a Cass Tech defense that featured Delonte Hollowell, Terry Richardson and Royce Jenkins Stone. He has good size at 6'1 205, and he is a phenomenal athlete (nationally ranked in track). I know he has an offer from Eastern, and is only listed as a 2 star, so what is the knock on him, and why is Michigan not showing more interest in him? He is a do it all type player, as he could come in and play on either side of the football. I know he camped at MSU along with Juwan Lewis, but I don't know how well he performed. Let me know your thoughts, and how you feel he compares to Juwan Lewis. I know Lewis is a target we may end up signing,and Lewis is also a 2 star listed at 5'10 200. Johnson has more size, and more speed, so I find it interesting that I keep hearing Lewis' name pop up, but don't hear anything abut Johnson at all.
What are your thoughts regarding Johnson as a prospect??
Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoNlxe8HgLc&feature=related
It's one thing to hit back on someone that posts a topic that's on the first page of the board or some random OT that's completely asinine.
In this case, the OP is posting in the middle of summer (nothing much else going on) about a local kid that he wants to learn more about to see if he might be an RB recruit. Just based on national rankings, he's not that different from Juwan Lewis, who received a write-up on this site.
All the OP's looking for is commentary from the guys on this board that know more about recruiting than he does. I thought that part of the reason this board exists is to get that type of knowledge and I certainly don't think that's worthy of a smart ass response.
You're being unnecessarily dickish.
I almost always like and/or agree with your posts, aaa, but hazing is unnecessary and dumbs the board down just as much as unitelligent, irrational, or redundant commentary.
The reason there is voting and points is to clue the posters in to the quality of their posts. If continued "neg-banging" doesn't influence a poster, then a ban-hammer from the mods will do the trick.
I don't feel it's good board behavior to raz every single lame post. Mgoblog has dumbed down some, sure, but that's what comes with popularity. In addition to having a reputation as a more intelligent community, this board also shares a reputation of being a bunch of snotty pricks. I believe this is due largely to the hazing to which you refer.
Actually the whole "snotty pricks" thing is because this board is populated by a large number of UM alumni. We're elitist and proud of it.
Part of me says, "Hear, hear!"
I am not elitist, nor am I proud that any of us are. In fact, it's embarrassing.
If you need to feel like you're better than others to feel good about who you are, you're actually worse than everyone else.
I am just glad it's not another RIP post. You have to find the silver lining sometimes.
Amy Winehouse.
I may as well state the obvious and get it out of the way: He's a hometown kid that was evaluated (briefly, most likely) by the UMich staff and judged to be a MAC-level player. It's highly unlikely that he's an undiscovered jewel.
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Posts like this remind of the fascination with another local player from a couple years ago. Chelsea's Nick Hill (in case anyone has forgotten) had a higher profile than Johnson does now, but his offers (Stanford and MSU excepted) were all from MAC schools:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/michiganstate/football/recruiting/player-Nick-H…
He seemed like a high-character guy that would have been a great last-minute addition (a la Andre Criswell) at Michigan, but not someone you'd greatly regret missing. We'll see.
Last week, Webb said he thought Johnson was the kind of kid Michigan would have offered if it wasn't such a great year for prospects in the midwest. He also said the only way he could see Johnson getting an offer would be if the recruiting class got smaller for some reason. Obviously, that isn't gonna happen.
I am guessing he could get a shot as a preferred walk-on, or whatever this regime will call it. I am also guessing he will take advantage of a free education somewhere, even if it is in Ypsi.
Army is the only school listed among the places he's interested in, and thus far, he has not visited. I think he would have a better shot there than in the Big Ten given the names being recruited in the Midwest lately.
Given he's got track speed and seems to be a straight line runner, Army's option system would be a pretty good fit for him as the system is based on being able to get to the edge. It's why he'll probably have a big season if the coach really does switch to a wing T as a lot of the plays in the wing T are designed to put a speed guy in space and have him make one cut. The risk there is even if he has a big season the coaches may see him as a system guy and not evaluate him any higher, we'll see what happens. If Army's after him, then I'm kind of hoping Air Force throws their hat in the ring.
Given all the information available on him, Drake Johnson will more than likely not play for the team across the street.
Given that he isn't a high level recruit, I doubt that he will be offered a scholarship by Michigan. With that said, I think he will play for Michigan. He has family member(s) who are directly involved in the University of Michigan Athletic Department, and they have been for a number of years. I think he will most likely be a preferred walk on.
Not a track savant, but I have to think this kid could have Olympic track aspirations. Johnson is one of the best HS hurdlers hurdlers in the country. I had the privilege of seeing Johnson perform at the Regionals in Saline and the kid is spectacular.
It definitely seems like it could be a possibility. A quick google showed that he ran a 13.80, which as a Junior is pretty incredible. For some perspective the world record is 12.87 I believe and most professional races clock in between like 13.00 and 13.3ish, depending on how presitgious the race is.
Please keep in mind, HS high hurdles are the same height as collegiate intermediate hurdles (i.e. the barriers for the 400im hurdle event). With this in mind, the additional 3in height typically makes a HUGE difference for incoming freshman as the transition to the collegiate level competition. So, while 13.8 is great for HS, 14.3 is not for collegiate competition. The rate at which he can convert and acclimate to the collegiate environment will depend a lot on the coaching he receives at the next level. FYI, 14.3 would qualify and score at the SEC Outdoor meet (one of the most dominant conferences in T&F), while 13.54 was the cutoff to make the national finals. That said, if T&F is his plan A, and he desires to play football, UF's Jeff Demps comes to mind, among others, then a school which has a great sprint/hurdling coach will probably turn his head. Just saying.
I guess I got a little ahead of myself on that comparison, but I just wanted to make a point about the fact that the kid is pretty elite as a track athlete. 13.8 is blazing fast for a high school junior.
Edit: I also looked it up and for the 2011 outdoor season the top senior time was 13.36 and the top junior time was 13.70
Johnson's highlight film on YouTube is pretty impressive. I certaintly would love to see him as a walk-on or in some sort in AA. Surprised by his offers, or lack thereof, especially with his size, speed, and the multiple things he can do.
Well we will know what he is all about after weeks 1 and 2 this year. He faces Warren De La Salle and Then Birmingham Brother Rice ... My personal opinion is he starts to pick up bigger D-1 offers midway through the season, and I think it's very possible Michigan starts to show interest as well if they do not land one of the top 10 backs they are coveting. Again, this is my personal opinion.
The site double posted ... sorry
I have watched this kid play in person over a dozen times over the past couple years. He is a ridiculous athlete and is 100% physically capable of playing ball in the Big Ten. Nick Hill was a much more polished player, and focused on football more than Drake. However Drake has a much higher ceiling that Nick Hill does IMO. I think that the only reason he is not rated higher is because he has not camped much. I would be ecstatic if Michigan offered him.
Another thing to note. Previous Pioneer High School head coach, Jeremy Gold used a RBBC approach for the last two years. I don't really blame him seeing as he had a lot of talent at that position, but if Drake had been a featured back I think this would have helped him. New coach Paul Test will likely run some form of a wing-t (like he did with Pioneer's freshman teams that went undefeated 3 years in a row under him), or else a pure I-form, pro style offense. Gold ran a spread, which agaim, I do not believe was beneficial for Drake. I would also think that Drake receives a more featured role since all the other backs graduated. This could help him. I fully expect Drake to blow up huge this year if he can stay healthy and stay focused on football.
His track aspirations are definitely something to note.. I am not extremely close to the situation but I do get the feeling that track could be an even larger focus than football for him. I definitely think it is the reason for his lack of camping and getting himself on the radar of major colleges. It is hard to tell whether football is 1A for him, or 1B behind track.. Whether he focuses on football or track I am sure that great things are in store for this young man. Again, I would love to see him in maize and blue.
Here is a link to his highlight video- which I think was made without 100% of his film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoNlxe8HgLc
Also, as a side note, against Cass tech he had a touchdown running, throwing, receiving, an interception for a td, and a punt return for a td... It was RIDICULOUS.
hard to say without FreddyJ giving a rock star evaluation .
I think its funny this post can be labeled nonsensical ... based on what? Are you saying Drake Johnson is worthless and means nothing to this program? Will you back track on that if Michigan offers him? I thought we weren't supposed to bash recruits or prospects? I wrote a positive article about a prospect from my opinions, and wanted opinions .. only to have someone say it's absurd to think he would ever be a part of Michigan's program and that he is nonsensical to this program? You never stated any facts as to why. Did you base this on his 2 star grade? Let's take a look at a few Michigan signee's over the year, and yes I believe Johnson can crack a 3 star grade by year's end:
1. David Harris -- Position LB - Rank out of high school: NR -- Not Ranked
2. Ryan Mundy - Position S - Not Ranked -- Now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Alan Branch - DT - 3 Star Ranking
4. Mike Hart - RB - 3 Star Ranking
5. Mark Huyge - C - 2 Star -- Starting Tackle this year
6. Troy Woolfolk - CB - 3 Star
To base your opinion on a Michigan prospect based strictly on ranking -- obviously you have no personal knowledge of him, or you would know he is a great athlete - is really lame. You shouldn't go bashing possible recruits.
And if you watch his highlight film from his two seasons thus far he looks like a pretty legit running back with good speep and moves. His Cass Tech game was insane.
It's not just about his ranking, though. It's the fact that he plays across the street from the Big House. So it's not like he's going unnoticed. The coaches are aware of him, and still haven't offered. If he does well next year and we whiff on RBs and a couple other spots open up from decommits, then he could very well get an offer. But he's obviously not high on our board right now, which could change
Who are your ratings from above?? I checked Rivals after I thought to myself, "What??"
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<br>David Harris was a well-known 3-star w/ an MSU offer and just didn't camp a lot.
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<br>Alan Branch was a 4-star, Army AA.
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<br>Ryan Mundy was a 4-star, Army AA, and Rivals 100 player.
Even if those players were ranked so poorly as we claimed he still showed only 4-5 players out of the entire modern history of cfb recruiting in an attempt to prove that Johnson is worthy of Michigan's attention
I know that a basketball recruit would occupy a football scholarship if he wanted to put on the winged helmet. Does this apply to track, as well?
Hadn't thought about this in a while, not sure it has to count against both as a full, at least interms of fiscal support. I do know of several situations where the support was split by the Football & T&F coaches so that each could get the kid on the field of competition. That said, keep in mind T&F, like basketball, have fewer schollies to had out, so typically, they prefer football to take the hit thereby opening up more space to recruit additional athletes and produce a stronger team. Just saying.
Football has to take the hit in terms of numbers. Basketball and football count for dual sport athletes, the other sports do not. For example, when Denard was running track he counted against the 85 limit in football, but not the 12.6 for track.
I think the kid looks good! He's fast, he runs hard, and he has good visioin. If Mr. Johnson decides to persue football, he'll further develope into one hell of a player. If Michigan has the opportunity to land him as a walk on, than we would get a steal! If not, I wish him success in his endeavors!
Look Drake, your highlights and size are impressive and everything, but the way to get an offer is not to pose as an MGoBlogger "wresler120".
Did anyone else notice the 4 spray panted on the 20's. Making them say 420. lol