'09 FL DE Kedric Johnson (Florida Verbal)

[GoRU]

'09 FL DE Kedric Johnson



Weakside defensive end
Palmetto (FL) Palmetto

Ht: 6-foot-4
Wt: 225 lbs
Forty: 4.69 secs
Bench max: 255 pounds
Vertical: 35 inches
Class: 2009 (High School)

HeraldTribune.com - Under the Radar - - HeraldTribune.com

The University of South Florida football team is going hard after Booker High’s Arthur Jeffrey and Palmetto’s Kedric Johnson.

The juniors, who figure to be the area’s two top defensive players heading into their senior season, have already been offered scholarships and it’s no secret they are a top priority for Bulls head coach Jim Leavitt.

Jeffrey is being recruited by just about every major college in the country and lists USF, LSU, Florida, FSU and Miami among his favorites. USF could have the edge because it’s the closest to home, but there is a lot of recruiting to do before the next national signing day in February 2009.

There is a long way to go before the next signing day in February ‘09, but as of right now Johnson and Jeffery say USF is their number one choice. Johnson may be more firm on that because the Bulls were the first major college to offer and he has a special feeling about their All-American defensive end George Selvie.

Jeffrey says LSU is high on his list and he is also considering Florida, FSU and Miami. It means Leavitt will have to stay in contact with him for the next year.

The 6-4, 215 pound Johnson is somewhat of a late bloomer, similar to former Palmetto High receiver Joe Hills, who just finished his redshirt season at South Carolina. Both have flourished with the arrival of Ray Woodie, who took over the head coaching duties at his alma mater in the 2006 season.

Johnson, who says Selvie is his football idol, led Palmetto with 19 sacks and seven tackles for a loss. He is extremely fast coming off the edge and coaches say there is no quit in him. .

Johnson’s numbers for a Palmetto High team that reached its Class 3A region semifinal are impressive. Among his personal highlights was a blocked punt he returned for a touchdown and an interception he also took the house.

Johnson was also credited with three forced fumbles, three pass deflections and two fumble recoveries. He had 40 tackles, including 20 solos and was heralded for his ability to pressure quarterbacks. It would take a lot for USF to lose him..

The best thing about Johnson is that he has the body that gives him a lot of room to get bigger and has the size most colleges want from a defensive end. His quickness has never been an issue.

The 6-4, 285-pound Jeffery says USF and LSU are his top two choices now. A desire to be close to his family could sway the defensive tackle to sign with the Bulls.

As a freshman, Jeffrey was good enough to earn a starting position on Booker’s 2005 team, which reached the Class 3A State championship game.

He isn’t just big. Jeffrey is extremely quick and was the fastest defensive lineman in a Booker program that has always been know for speed.

Booker head coach Fred Gilmore said you just don’t see many players with Jeffrey’s size run as fast as he does. His technique is very sound and his effectiveness is all the more impressive beacuse he is double teamed nearly every play.

Last season, he blocked three field goals and two PATS, forced five fumbles and recovered two fumbles. He was credited with 11 sacks and 28 tackles for losses.

PalmettoSports.com | South Carolina Recruiting | Phil Kornblut | GoUpstate.com

USC is one of the offers for DE Kedric Johnson (6-4 220) of Palmetto, FL, the home of Gamecock receiver Joseph Hills. Johnson also plays tight end and outside linebacker. Last season he had 40 tackles with 19 sacks and 30 quarterback hurries. Most of the schools are recruiting him as a defensive end. Johnson also has offers from South Florida, West Virginia, Kentucky, Central Florida, Michigan State, Auburn and Wake Forest. "Right now, I'm just sitting back and weighing my options," Johnson said. "I'm not high on one school." Johnson plans to go to camps this summer at Auburn and Florida.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

6/2

From the Clemson site...Clemson, Ohio State, Michigan and Ole Miss are his most recent offers. Talks about his interest in each of the new schools, as well as South Carolina, USF and Auburn.

[GoRU]

ESPN - Kedric Johnson Rankings, Grade, News, Stats - College Football Recruiting 2009

Defensive end Kedric Johnson, who registered an astounding 19 sacks last fall, told ESPN affiliate Web site TheBigSpur.com that three programs are currently showing him the most interest.

"I feel that Clemson, South Florida and South Carolina have been after me the hardest," said Johnson. "I don't have any favorites though. Everyone's who is interested in me has a chance. I'm not high on just one school."

Several other programs such as Ohio State, Michigan, West Virginia, Kentucky and Michigan State have also offered Johnson.

[HotMic]

Scout $

7/30

From the Clemson site. Johnson has a top five of Clemson, Florida, South Carolina, Auburn and USF. Education, connection with the coaches and location will all be factors in his choice.

[HotMic]

Scout $

8/24

From the Nebraska site. Johnson says that Nebraska was at the top of his list for awhile, but he has now dropped them out of his top 5. His favorites include USF, Florida, Clemson, Auburn and South Carolina.

[GoRU]

Palmetto's Johnson makes his choice: He's a Gator - High School - Bradenton.com

Rather than playing the waiting game, Kedric Johnson decided he'd rather play for a national championship.

So Palmetto's All-Area defensive end verbally committed to Florida late Wednesday night, choosing the Gators over more than 20 Division I programs such as West Virginia, USF, Ohio State and Kentucky.

Last week, Johnson said he planned on making his decision between the end of the Tigers’ football season and National Signing Day, which is in February.


Then he saw The Swamp rocking while attending the Gators’ game with Miami earlier this season, and clicked with all of Florida’s coaches — including Dan McCarney, who coaches Florida’s defensive line — while attending camps.

“I sat down with my family,” Johnson said, “and decided this was the best place for me to be. Now, I can concentrate on my grades and getting bigger and better.”

Despite last week’s stunning loss to Ole Miss, the Gators are two years removed from winning the BCS title, are perennial contenders in the rugged Southeastern Conference and boast Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow at quarterback.

“It’s one of the premier programs in the country,” he said. “Going to Florida, I knew I’d have a chance to play for a national championship.”

The Gators began their push for Johnson while he was a junior and have been one of his most aggressive suitors since. Johnson put up 19 1/2 sacks season and has 11 1/2 in four games for Palmetto this year.

“They said they wanted to see some consistent play from me,” Johnson said of the Florida coaches.

Johnson plans to stay at defensive end and hopes to play as a freshman once he lands in Gainesville, adding he wants to study either business administration or sports medicine.

And though signing day is a few months away, and some of the nation’s best programs are still in hot pursuit, Johnson doesn’t figure on deviating from his decision.

“I plan to stay true to my word,” he said.