CLIFF NOTES: Texas added its first member of the 2023 recruiting class with the commitment of Jamel Johnson on Thursday morning. The Longhorns had been without a pledge in the class since four-star running back Rueben Owens backed off his commitment in the summer. Johnson gives Sarkisian and the Longhorns staff a blue-chip prospect at a premium position to build the rest of the class around.
RANKING: Rivals ranks Jamel Johnson as a top-250 prospect for the 2023 recruiting cycle. Johnson is a 5.8 four-star defensive back, ranking as the 26th best cornerback in the cycle and the 27th best junior prospect in the state of Texas.
KEY OFFERS: Texas, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M.
EVALUATION: I had the privilege to go out to an Arlington Seguin football practice last week to get an up-close view of Johnson and the Cougars. Johnson certainly passes the eye test: he possesses great size and length for a defensive back and immediately stands out. As a player, Johnson uses his length to his advantage, making it difficult for wide receivers to create any separation from him. The 2023 prospect has played all over the secondary during his prep career -- cornerback, safety, and on offense. That versatility made him a priority target for the Longhorns as they look to build up the defensive backfield in Austin.
Offenses, smartly, rarely test Johnson's side of the field. He does not get many opportunities to make plays in coverage, but he does flash excellent ball skills on those occasions. The Seguin coaching staff enjoys getting the ball into his hands, and it is easy to see why. Johnson is a plus-athlete and a natural playmaker with the ball -- either by design on offense or after creating a key takeaway. Additionally, Johnson is a physical and an intelligent football player. He is not afraid to stick his nose in the run game while also getting up in the receiver's grill at the line of scrimmage. He reads the quarterback well and is often in good position to make a play.
CLOSING THOUGHTS: Texas needs difference makers above all else. That is what Jamel Johnson is. Johnson recently told Orangebloods that he wants to "change the culture" when he begins his collegiate career. While that might sound a little cliche, Johnson is a player that has earned all of the respect from his coaches and peers. He is a hard-working athlete that wants to make a difference wherever he lines up on the field. Johnson says he prefers to play cornerback due to his confidence to man-up with anybody he lines up against, but he is open to playing wherever he is needed.
The versatility that he has shown throughout his career in Arlington gives the Longhorns a ton of options when he gets to the 40 Acres. This is a big and an important in-state win for Sark and Texas.
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