Justin Johnson Signs with Mountaineers
As Early Signing Day wears on, West Virginia continues to add to its 2021 recruiting class. Earlier today, head coach Neal Brown received good news as Justin Johnson signs with Mountaineers.
Johnson is one of two four-star running backs joining West Virginia. And he is one of five top-500 recruits to sign with the Mountaineers this year. He hails from Edwardsville, Illinois. Rivals ranks him as their 15th-best running back in the 2021 class and the fourth-best prospect out of Illinois.
Johnson adds a dynamic threat to the backfield in Morgantown. His skill set jumps out when reviewing his high school film. He maintains good pad level at the point of attack. Johnson has the vision to go with shifty footwork. Most impressively, he runs with poise and balance, often adding yards by keeping his feet moving through tackles at or below the hips.
While Johnson looks the part of a versatile speedy back with plus receiving skills, he is definitely not afraid to lower his shoulder and explode through contact. Coach Brown, as we have reported, wants running backs that can help establish a power run game. But he also needs those backs to read defenses through a zone blocking scheme and to act as a safety valve for the quarterback in the air raid offense.
Johnson offers Brown a complementary skill set for his play design, and fans will learn his name soon. Regardless, we welcome Johnson to West Virginia and look forward to seeing him play.
(Photo courtesy The Intelligencer.com)
