Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy running back Donovan Johnson committed to Michigan on Sunday. He picked the Wolverines over reported offers from Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and USC, among others.
Johnson is listed at 6'0" and 205 lbs. on 247 Sports, though his school's Hudl page lists him at 6'1", 215. He ran a 22.47 in the 200 meters and a 51.58 in the 400 meters.
RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 82 grade, #8 RB, #123 overall
On3: 4-star, 90 grade, #19 RB, #242 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #19 RB
247 Sports: 3-star, 88 grade, #30 RB
Hit the jump for more.
Johnson transferred from Savannah (GA) Calvary Day after his freshman year to IMG Academy for his sophomore season. However, he suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss his junior year. While Johnson has a very good offer list, it appears that some schools backed off recruiting him due to his injury. He visited Michigan unofficially last week and will likely return for an official visit this fall.
Johnson has a solid frame and shouldn't have any issues carrying the necessary weight and musculature to be a Big Ten running back. At times he shows some good physicality and balance while muscling through tacklers.
Of course, his most recent film comes from his sophomore year, and a lot could have changed since then. He could be bigger. He could be faster or quicker. He could have worked on some agility drills while rehabbing his leg. It's hard to say how much his body and athleticism have changed from 2022 until now. But aside from one tough run, the talent is not immediately apparent. The biggest thing for me is that his feet stop on contact and he doesn't have the quick, short steps necessary for work in short areas. That was something I overlooked a little bit in my evaluation of Derrick Green back in the 2013 recruiting cycle, and I wouldn't want to make the same mistake again.
Overall, I'm going to withhold some judgment on Johnson or have a "TBD" flashing in my mind, because his junior year was wiped out due to the knee injury. I'm not overly impressed with his 2022 highlights, but there must be some indication he's recovered - and likely improved - for Michigan to pursue him and for the ratings services to make him a 4-star prospect.
Johnson is the second running back prospect to commit in the 2025 class, joining Louisiana back Jasper Parker.
I just read over on 247 Sports that Michigan confirmed that Johnson was recently clocked at 23 mph, so his speed/rehab situation is pretty good. Back in 2015 (I think), there was a running back (Matt Falcon) Michigan successfully recruited, but a knee injury in high school just never allowed him to get back to where he needed to be. Drake Johnson is another RB whose consistent knee injuries never let him reach his potential. It's a tough position to play if your legs aren't healthy.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about Blake Corum, who had a knee injury (torn ACL, I believe) in 2022, and came back fairly well in 2023. The area of orthopedic reconstruction and rehabilitation has come a *long* way in recent years.
Delete@ Anonymous 9:24 a.m.
DeleteIt has come a long way in recent years, so I agree. But I also want to note that Corum's injury was a torn meniscus, not an ACL tear.
Oh, sure ... get all nit-picky about details! :-)
DeleteWe presently have, to my way of thinking, one of the best RB groups in the nation. With a room like we have now, I have no problem taking a real fast kid that has demonstrated himself to be solid pre injury. Particularly since we have committed another all purpose kind of a back that can catch it and are still in the hunt for the stud kid from Mater Dei.
ReplyDeleteRoanman
Welcome to Harball young man
ReplyDelete