Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1454229
M A R C H 2 0 2 2 3 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M E very year on signing day, Penn State coach James Franklin and a few mem- bers of his staff meet with the media to recap the incoming recruiting class. The questions are always focused on the newest group of players, but one topic that comes up every year is the importance of summer camps. Franklin has consistently emphasized that those camps are a major factor in the staff's scouting process. In 2021, for the first time ever, the NCAA allowed coaches to do on-campus evaluations of soon-to-be seniors in a non-camp setting. If a player's sched- ule didn't allow him to attend a specific camp, he could come up for an unofficial visit at any time and do a personal work- out with members of the coaching staff. That rule change is the main reason why three-star wide receiver Tyler John- son is now a Nittany Lion. Last June, Johnson made a midweek visit to Penn State. One of only a few re- cruits on campus at the time, the Mar- tinsville, Va., native had an opportunity to spend quality time with the staff. Johnson had known going into the visit that the coaches wanted to get some test- ing numbers on him, and boy, did that workout pay off. He ran a 4.4-second 40- yard dash that day, as well as a 4.2-second shuttle. Then came a series of positional drills during which he performed even better. By the time he left campus, his of- fer from Penn State was firm. Johnson was also very high on Penn State coming off that trip — so much so that he returned to State College two days later, taking an official visit June 18-19. By the time it was all over, Johnson knew what he wanted to do. On June 21, he an- nounced his commitment. "I really wanted to just get all of this over with because I know Penn State is the best school for me," Johnson said. "I feel like Penn State has something great for me. I can get to the next level there and be developed." During a shortened junior season, Johnson totaled 925 yards receiving on just 25 catches for Magna Vista High. Most impressively, he scored 13 touch- downs. That's one touchdown every other catch. He followed that up in 2021 with 37 receptions for 1,556 yards receiving and 13 more touchdowns. Johnson is ranked as the No. 545 over- all player and No. 87 receiver in the On3 Consensus. To earn his signature, Penn State beat out Wake Forest and Virginia Tech, both of which are only about an hour's drive from his home. "What really stood out was the type of people the staff really were from the time I got there Wednesday up until Sunday," Johnson said. "I just felt a connection that felt like family, and I think that's impor- tant." ■ Johnson earned an offer from Penn State after a strong performance in an individual workout for the coaching staff last June. The three-star wideout committed later that month. PHOTO COURTESY THE JOHNSON FAMILY A Dazzling Workout Leads Tyler Johnson To Penn State RYA N S N Y D E R | S N Y D E R 4 2 0 8 8 @ G M A I L . C O M TYLER JOHNSON WR | 6-0 | 175 MAGNA VISTA HIGH MARTINSVILLE, VA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE consensus ✪ ✪ ✪ 545 87 15 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 52 11 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 52 12 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 96 19 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 92 19 STATISTICS • Totaled 40 receptions for 1,278 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior. • Finished with 25 catches for 925 yards and 13 touchdowns during a junior season that was played in the spring of 2021 due to the pandemic. • Made 36 catches for 915 yards as a sopho- more. • Had 23 receptions for 545 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman. NOTABLE • Two-time team captain and twice picked as team MVP. • Twice named first-team all-district. • Was a two-time first-team all-region selec- tion. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Penn State on June 21, 2021. • Recruited by wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield. • Picked Penn State over Wake Forest and Vir- ginia Tech. • Officially visited on June 18, 2021. 2022 PROJECTION One of four wide receivers in the Nittany Lions' 2022 recruiting class, Johnson is likely to redshirt this coming fall. THEY SAID IT Joe Favero, Magna Vista head coach: "He's a great kid. He's extremely talented and a pleasure to coach. He was a great leader for our team in terms of going out and being a hard-nosed foot- ball player. He's very gifted. He brought a lot of positive attention to our program and our area. He showed our young guys that if you go out and work hard and represent yourself well, you can have the opportunity to go play at a great place like Penn State." BWI analyst Thomas Frank Carr: "If you look at all the different types of athleticism, all the different ways you can be athletic, Tyler Johnson does all of them very well. Holistically, he's a re- ally good athlete. "One of the first things you notice is that he's a really good leaper. He shows lower-body strength, coordination, the ability to manipulate his body through space in the air. There's a lot of basketball in there. When you watch him jump to the point of attack, it's impressive. He's an impressive athlete in the air, and that continues after the catch."