With the early signing period for high school football players beginning on December 18, Badgers Insider takes a closer look at the recruits that signed with the Wisconsin football program.
In this edition, we examine Minnehaha Academy (MN) outside linebacker Kaden Johnson.
Note: All notes and stats provided by uwbadgers.com
Johnson chose Wisconsin over other offers from: California, Iowa, Iowa State, LSU, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon State, Purdue, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Virginia
Johnson’s High School Accolades: Four–star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals…No. 1–ranked recruit in Minnesota…First–team All–Metro by Minneapolis Star Tribune…Helped Minnehaha to consecutive Class 2A state titles in basketball
Johnson’s Impact as a Badger: Wisconsin has been on Johnson for a while as the relationship they developed with him early on paid off on Wednesday as he announced he was signing his national letter of intent with Wisconsin.
With the addition of Johnson at linebacker, it continues to add what is already an impressive haul for the Badgers during the 2020 recruiting cycle.
Johnson a consensus four-star prospect joins a linebacker class that already includes projected outside linebackers in consensus four-star Nick Herbig and three-star Aaron Witt and a trio of inside linebackers in Jordan Turner, Malik Reed, and Preston Zachman as all three are rated as consensus three-star prospects.
Like many of the other commits in the 2020 recruiting class, Johnson is a multi-sport athlete as he also is a member of the Minnehaha Academy basketball team. Due to Johnson playing both sports he has demonstrated good footwork in addition to having good foot speed.
Johnson’s quickness allows him to be able to generate pressure in the backfield. Johnson is well put together as he’s listed at 6’4″ and 200 pounds allowing him to bull rush his way in order to create pressure in the backfield.
Johnson does well with his hand placement, which allows him to create the pressure. Although Johnson has done well in creating pressure in the backfield in high school he simply won’t be able to consistently bull rush people at times in order to have success from the outside linebacker position.
Making it important that outside linebackers coach Bobby April is able to provide him with additional tools to help support his pass rushing skills. Considering the more tools Johnson has at his disposal will only make him more dangerous.
Johnson like Herbig is capable of playing as a true freshman. The Badgers lose Zack Baun due to graduation but the success of the Badgers defense relies on creating pressure on the outside by the linebackers. As great as Baun has been this year the Badgers are going to need someone to replace his production in creating pressure in the backfield.
With that being said Johnson will be given his chance of showing he’s capable of creating pressure in the backfield. If he’s able to consistently string together strong practices he’ll give himself a chance of carving out a role for himself.