4-star DE Brad Johnson weighs in on decision to sign with South Carolina
Feb. 01, 2017
PENDLETON, S.C. – Brad Johnson was sitting at church on Sunday when he decided that South Carolina would be his next home.
Wendy Johnson, his mother, was the first person to find out. Word was then relayed to Pendleton High School coach Paul Sutherland, followed by South Carolina coach Will Muschamp and Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente.
Johnson, a 4-star recruit and the No. 3-ranked prospect from the state of South Carolina, had a little fun with his future coach while he had him on the phone.
“I called him and started talking to him. He asked me if I had some good news for him. I told him I had some good news and bad news. The bad news that he wasn’t going to be recruiting me anymore and that it was over with,” Johnson said. “The good news was he’ll be coaching me for the next 3 or 4 years.
“He was kind of relieved. He took a deep breath at the end of that conversation.”
Johnson will work into the Gamecocks defense as a “Buck,” which is a hybrid linebacker/defensive end position.
“I feel like it fits me perfectly, with my athletic skill-set and everything I bring to the table, so I feel comfortable with it,” he said. “And I’m ready to get started.”
South Carolina will welcome Johnson to campus in June or July. He will join fellow 2017 signees Jay Urich, Will Register and Davonne Bowen, a few of the guys he got to know in December during Shrine Bowl week.
“I’ve got a good relationship with those guys and that played a small part in (the decision),” Johnson said.
There were other factors in play.
“It came down to a lot of prayers, a lot of discussion with my family, friends. I had to think about it for a long time,” Johnson said. “It finally just got to the point where I just needed to make the decision. The factors that I had weighed into it was just how comfortable I felt and how well and how smooth I felt my transition would be going to USC. That was a big part of it for me.”
Another was the opportunity to play under South Carolina assistant coach Mike Peterson, whose NFL career spanned 3 decades.
“That plays a part in it, because he’ll be my position coach,” Johnson said. “He’s the guy I’ll spend the most time with and he’s been through what I want to do. He’ll definitely be a great role model for me and help me reach my max potential.”
Feb. 01, 2017
PENDLETON, S.C. – Brad Johnson was sitting at church on Sunday when he decided that South Carolina would be his next home.
Wendy Johnson, his mother, was the first person to find out. Word was then relayed to Pendleton High School coach Paul Sutherland, followed by South Carolina coach Will Muschamp and Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente.
Johnson, a 4-star recruit and the No. 3-ranked prospect from the state of South Carolina, had a little fun with his future coach while he had him on the phone.
“I called him and started talking to him. He asked me if I had some good news for him. I told him I had some good news and bad news. The bad news that he wasn’t going to be recruiting me anymore and that it was over with,” Johnson said. “The good news was he’ll be coaching me for the next 3 or 4 years.
“He was kind of relieved. He took a deep breath at the end of that conversation.”
Johnson will work into the Gamecocks defense as a “Buck,” which is a hybrid linebacker/defensive end position.
“I feel like it fits me perfectly, with my athletic skill-set and everything I bring to the table, so I feel comfortable with it,” he said. “And I’m ready to get started.”
South Carolina will welcome Johnson to campus in June or July. He will join fellow 2017 signees Jay Urich, Will Register and Davonne Bowen, a few of the guys he got to know in December during Shrine Bowl week.
“I’ve got a good relationship with those guys and that played a small part in (the decision),” Johnson said.
There were other factors in play.
“It came down to a lot of prayers, a lot of discussion with my family, friends. I had to think about it for a long time,” Johnson said. “It finally just got to the point where I just needed to make the decision. The factors that I had weighed into it was just how comfortable I felt and how well and how smooth I felt my transition would be going to USC. That was a big part of it for me.”
Another was the opportunity to play under South Carolina assistant coach Mike Peterson, whose NFL career spanned 3 decades.
“That plays a part in it, because he’ll be my position coach,” Johnson said. “He’s the guy I’ll spend the most time with and he’s been through what I want to do. He’ll definitely be a great role model for me and help me reach my max potential.”
