When Texas first offered linebacker Gary Johnson, the Dodge City Community College standout waste no time in setting up an official visit to check out the Longhorn program. Johnson's interest was obviously sincere, and he proved it by taking a visit to see the Texas program last weekend.
Following that visit, Johnson told Orangebloods.com that he really enjoyed the visit, but it was too early to name any formal leaders. Five days later, Johnson decided he had seen everything he needed to see on the UT visit and he gave Texas a verbal commitment, arguably the Longhorns' biggest pledge to date in the 2017 class.
"I've dreamed of this opportunity to attend a Division I program and today is the day I shut down my recruitment," Johnson said on Twitter. "I will be attending the University of Texas for the next few years."
Prior to committing to Texas, Johnson had also been considering USC, Oregon, Arizona State and Louisville. He had tentative visits scheduled to Oregon and USC but those are now off the books.
"Texas has always been a power house. Texas in itself speaks a lot," Johnson told Orangebloods.com after UT offered. "They're all about football there. To have an offer from a place that is going to turn it around in a year or two, that's huge for me."
An inside linebacker with tremendous range, athleticism and instincts, Johnson will have a chance to bring an immediate boost to the Texas defense. The UT coaches have told him he'll have an opportunity to contribute right away and compete for a starting spot.
"They're just saying they need an impact linebacker to come in at the middle linebacker position and run their defense," Johnson said.
A 6-2, 225-pounder, Johnson is a four-star prospect and is the No. 4-ranked junior college prospect in the 2017 class. He carries a 6.0 rivals ranking, putting him just shy of a five-star ranking.
Johnson becomes the Longhorns' 15th commitment in the 2017 recruiting class and second linebacker commitment, joining recent pledge Marqea Bimage. He'll enroll at Texas for the summer session in June.
"It's time I keep doing what I do best at UT," Johnson said.
