'08 MS RB Desmond Johnson (Southern Miss Verbal)

[wadc45]

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Yazoo City (MS) Yazoo City

Ht: 6-foot-0
Wt: 185 lbs
Forty: 4.45 secs
Bench max: 265 pounds
Squat max: 400 pounds
ACT: 21

Ranked the #84 RB in the country by Scout.
Rated the #24 player in Mississippi by Rivals.

Only played in 5 games during his senior year due to a broken tibia. Had an offer from LSU and was favoring them but has not heard from them since before Christmas...

Originally Posted by Scout Evaluation

Looks smaller than 6-0/184 and does not have many runs between the tackle. Shows good speed and great balance when he breaks outside, and decent hands out of the backfield. Very patient in lining up his blockers at the second level and on the edge. Did not see any blocking.

Originally Posted by Scout Bio

Rushed for over 2,509 yards and 33 touchdowns his junior season. For his efforts, he was selected Player of the Year in the Delta.

Named second team All-State by the Clarion Ledger as a junior.

Rivals $

1/18

From TheWolverine...talks about his visit from Coach Hopson, who extended a UM offer. Visited Southern Miss on 1/18 and is scheduled to visit Memphis on 2/1.

Scout $

1/24

By Sam Webb...visiting UM this weekend. Favoring Michigan, Southern Mississippi and Memphis.

RP Discussion Links:

[HotMic]

Scout $

1/24

From the Michigan site. Video highlights.

[HotMic]

Yazoo City RB Johnson USM bound

Dandy Dozen selection took visit with Michigan, but will stay close to home

Rod Walker • rwalker@clarionledger.com • January 29, 2008
Too far. Too cold
Those were the words Yazoo City running back Desmond Johnson uttered Sunday to his mother Vickey shortly after returning from his official visit to Michigan over the weekend. So the Dandy Dozen senior has verbally committed to a school a lot closer - and a lot warmer: Southern Miss.
"The coaches (at USM) seemed like they really cared and showed a lot of love," the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Johnson said Monday. "I really liked everything about it. It feels good to have it over with because going through (the recruiting process) gives you a lot to think about."
Johnson plans to sign with USM Feb. 6, the first day of the NCAA's signing period. It comes just four months after Johnson suffered a season-ending broken leg midway through his senior season.
"I was worried at first, scared the colleges weren't going to stay in contact with me," said Johnson, who finished with 1,002 yards and 12 touchdowns despite playing just 4 1/2 games.
Johnson, who rushed for an MHSAA-best 2,509 yards and 33 touchdowns as a junior, says newly hired Southern Miss assistant coach Tony Hughes (who coached at Ole Miss the past three seasons) played a key part in his decision.
"When (Hughes) first went to Southern Miss, he said he was still recruiting me and hadn't forgot about me," said Johnson. "It meant a lot to me. I could tell he cared about me and really wanted me."
Johnson is the second Dandy Dozen player to commit to USM, joining Moss Point defensive lineman Willie Packer, who verbally committed last month after originally committing to Ole Miss.
"Coach Hughes is like a brother or a dad to me," said Packer, a second-team All-State pick after recording 90 tackles for 4A semifinalist Moss Point. "And it's good to get to play close to home. It feels like I can come home and be a celebrity."


Rod Walker