Tag: L.J. Johnson

Status of current, future running back room at Texas after missing on L.J. Johnson

Texas whiffed on a major prospect in the 2021 class in RB L.J. Johnson. Here is the current and future status of the RB room.

Texas whiffed on a major prospect from the 2021 recruiting class, four-star running back L.J. Johnson. He chose to sign with Texas’ in-state rival Texas A&M.

Where does the running back room go from here?

As the situation stands, there will be at least three scholarship players returning. Recruits from the 2021, 2022 and 2023 classes are still up for grabs. With Texas retaining Stan Drayton as its running back’s coach, it will have an experienced and respected recruiter.

Here is the status of the current running back room, plus a look at the possible recruits Texas could go after.

Where Texas sits in the 2021 ESPN recruiting rankings

The Texas Longhorns aren’t quite finished with their 2021 class, but they’ve signed 19 recruits up to this point.

There are only two months left in the 2021 recruiting cycle. Continue reading “Where Texas sits in the 2021 ESPN recruiting rankings”

Texas target L.J. Johnson makes top 10 recruits available list

Texas target, L.J. Johnson makes the list for one of the top ten players still available in the 2021 recruiting cycle.

The Texas Longhorns and head coach Tom Herman aren’t quite done with their recruiting efforts for the 2021 recruiting cycle. They did secure 19 signings during the early period with the February signing day yet to come. Herman mentioned they have nine spots left to fill before it is all said and done.

Despite the fact that the Longhorns inked one running back already with Hallettsville’s Jonathon Brooks, there is another back in their sights. Cy-Fair running back L.J. Johnson is their next target to sign. He is likely the highest-rated player on the board outside of Ishmael Ibraheem.

According to USA TODAY Sports’ List Wire, Johnson is the No. 7 player on their top 10 unsigned recruits in the 2021 cycle. Johnson is still very much in play for the Longhorns with Texas A&M as the other top school pushing to sign him. Bijan Robinson has been one pushing to get Johnson to the Forty Acres. LSU and Oklahoma are the other two schools making up his top four, but it will likely come down to the former Lone Star Rivalry members battling it out for his commitment.

Johnson is the No. 3 rated running back in the country and No. 8 in the state of Texas per 247Sports composite rankings. Adding Johnson only makes this already stocked running back stable more dangerous with yet another playmaker.

The most recent activity on his crystal ball predictions is in favor of the Longhorns.

The other recruit to make the top 10 with Texas ties is Quaydarius Davis. Most believe that Davis is USC-bound but seems like that has cooled off a bit as of late. He committed to the Trojans back in May of this year.

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Texas Football Recruiting: Three targets make USA TODAY Sports HS All-American Team

USA TODAY Sports released their high school All-American team with three Longhorn hopefuls making the team led by Ja’Tavion Sanders.

In the game of high school football it is king in the Lone Star State. We love our football in the south. USA TODAY Sports has released their high school pre-season All-American. Some of the players named are well known around Texas football recruiting analysts. In fact, two are commits to the Longhorns while one other is a target they are actively pursuing.

First Team

L.J. Johnson: Running Back, Cy-Fair (Cypress, TX)

Johnson is one of the top targets for the Texas Longhorns and he made the first team at running back. Over the last two seasons, he has put up monster production. A former USA TODAY Sports All-American in Bijan Robinson has been heavily involved in getting Johnson to the Forty Acres.

Year Att Yards Avg TDs
2019 206 1,951 9.5 37
2018 164 1,139 6.9 20

*stats courtesy of 247Sports

Ja’Tavion Sanders: Athlete, Ryan (Denton, TX)

Sanders was the first commitment to the 2021 Texas football recruiting class. While listed as an athlete, the five-star recruit is expected to play defensive end for the Longhorns. Sanders plays both ways for Denton-Ryan but most feel is best suited to play the “Jack” role when Joseph Ossai moves on to the NFL.

Year Tackles TFL Sacks
2019 39 20 11
2018 54 23 9.5

Second Team

Quinn Ewers: Quarterback, Southlake Carroll (Southlake, TX)

Ewers became the second recruit from the 2022 class to commit to Texas. The number one quarterback in the class is as close to a can’t miss prospect as they come. He could be a program changing recruit and all eyes will be on the gunslinger over the next two years of high school football.

Year Comp Att Yards TDs
2019 291 402 4,003 45