Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1201503
| A t times, Joseph Johnson felt like his recruiting process had almost mor- phed into a drawn-out shopping trip for a used car. School after school ap- proached him, only to leave him feeling as though they were trying to sell him something. That didn't sit right with the Chester, Va., native. But a trip to Penn State showed him that not every sta6 ap- proached recruiting with a salesman's mindset. "To be honest, that 4rst visit, I didn't want to leave," Johnson said in a recent phone interview. "I told my mom I didn't want to come home. It felt like home to me. They treated me like family. There were never any awkward moments. "It was a great atmosphere up there. So why not? Why not Penn State?" In Johnson, Penn State has added a three-star cornerback and the 10th- ranked player in Virginia according to Ri- vals.com. Johnson chose the Nittany Lions over 17 other schools that o6ered, including Florida, Florida State, Indiana, Ohio State, Tennessee, Pitt and North Carolina State. Johnson, who is listed at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, had announced last March that he would be signing with N.C. State, but his commitment didn't last long. He re- opened his recruitment in May and, a7er a second visit to Penn State the following month, gave James Franklin and sta6 his verbal pledge in early July. "They didn't really try to push an agenda on me. They didn't really try to force anything on me," Johnson remem- bered. "They just tried to show me what the school was about. I just fell in love with it, and it just took o6 from there." A connection with an emerging Penn State linebacker, rising junior Ellis Brooks, also contributed to Johnson's de- cision. Brooks, too, is from Virginia, and he and Johnson spent time working out together during Brooks' senior year of high school before leaving for University Park. Thanks to those workouts, Brooks and Johnson became close. And while Brooks was in Johnson's ear throughout the re- cruiting process, just like Penn State's coaching sta6, he wasn't applying any pressure. "He never really tried to force me to come," Johnson said. "He was saying the same things the coaches say, go where you feel is the best place for you." Johnson helped Life Christian Acad- emy, which started its football program in 2018, to a 4-6 record in his senior season, and a No. 14 ranking in Virginia, accord- ing to MaxPreps. On the 4eld, Johnson described himself as a team player. He strives to be coach- able, and he also developed a knack for leadership over the course of his high school career. Some of that came natu- rally, he said. But Johnson has also had to work for it, keeping a close eye on some of his mentors in life to pick up techniques and tricks that he can use to improve his own leadership abilities. "I'm a hard worker on the 4eld," he said. "I'm a dog. I'm a leader. I'm going to try my hardest and I'm going to try to get my teammates to try their hardest." ■ day open not only his own clothing busi- ness – he said he thinks his personality would make him a great salesman – but also a homeless shelter. "Where I'm from, you see a lot of homeless people," Holmes said. "It's not a bad community, it's a good place, but a lot of bad things happen. I just want to give back, especially to the kids. A lot of kids don't have a mom or don't have a dad. I want them to have something bet- ter in life than being in the streets or end up being killed." For now, the 18-year-old will focus on adjusting to college life and improving every area of his game, chie5y blocking, he said, as he works toward the 4nal goal of playing at the next level. His message to Nittany Lion fans is simple: "Be ready for the show I'm com- ing to put on every Saturday." ■ Johnson eager to be part of Penn State family THE JOHNSON FILE STATS Finished with 40 total tackles, five pass breakups and a forced fumble as a senior... Had 60 tackles, seven pass breakups, three interceptions and a forced fumble as a junior HONORS Named a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, as well as the No. 52 cornerback nationally and the No. 10 prospect in Virginia... Received All-State honors in 2018 and '19... Rated No. 4 in the Fab 15 ranking of top Virginia seniors CLICK HERE to see video of Johnson in action.