Big Ten Team Makes Offer

Pahokee wide receiver De’Joshua Johnson has already gotten offers from Florida, Florida State, and Miami. The speedy 2010 prospect added another school to the list, this time it was a school from the Big Ten to make the offer. The Michigan Wolverines continue to pound Pahokee High School in search of more talent to add to their roster, as they offered Johnson yesterday evening.

“I called Coach [Rod] Smith to see how he was doing and he was like, ‘I got good news for you, an offer just got submitted,’ ” said Johnson. “They had a conversation about me, they talked real good about me and they liked my highlight tape, and I’m the newest offer for the 2010 class.”

The 5-foot-10, 160-pound bolt of lightning expressed his feelings on Michigan coming through with an offer.

“It’s amazing. I was expecting to get one, just not so soon. I was thinking in the spring.”

Rich Rodriguez certainly has put the full court press on Pahokee since taking over control at Michigan. He wrangled in Martavious Odoms last year and Odoms is currently Michigan’s leading receiver as a true freshman. Rodriguez has also gotten verbal commitments from Johnson’s teammates Vincent Smith and Brandin Hawthorne. What have Smith and Hawthorne been telling Johnson since the news came in last night.

“They were happy about it, happy Coach Smith liked me. They were telling me all the good things about Coach Smith and what kind of person he is.”

Johnson has some knowledge of the Wolverine football program, but admitted he still has a lot more to learn about it.

“I know a little bit, but I don’t know too much about them. I just started liking Michigan in the 8th grade, because that’s when I started paying attention to football. That’s when I realized that was my way out of here [Pahokee].”

With some familiar faces already in, or on their way to Ann Arbor, where exactly do the Wolverines rate in Johnson’s choices?

“Michigan is highly favored along with Florida State. My five are Florida State, Michigan, Miami, and then I go with Wisconsin, and I guess Florida,” said Johnson.

The Badgers are one of the schools recruiting Johnson that have yet to send in an official offer. Oregon, Auburn, FAU, and Michigan State are some of the others.

In recent years Pahokee players have gotten the decision of choosing a school to attend out of the way early. Johnson is not so sure he will follow that trend.

“I might make a decision this summer, but probably not. I’ll probably decide after all my visits. So when I touch down after my last visit I’ll commit then.”

Johnson and his Pahokee teammates take part in the state of Florida’s greatest rivalry this weekend. The Blue Devils host Glades Central Saturday for the annual Muck Bowl, which will feature upwards of 25 Division-1 football recruits. Kick-off is set for 1:00 pm.