Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1532761
M A R C H 2 0 2 5 3 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / P L A Y E R B I O S / / / / / / / I ronton head coach Trevon Pendel- ton doesn't hesitate in his evaluation of Josh Johnson. No one seems to after watching a few minutes, games, or sea- sons of the standout defensive back. At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Johnson is looking for contact. So much so that, asked to identify the first thing that stands out about the player the Nittany Lions will welcome later this spring, Pen- delton was straight- forward. "It's definitely his physicality. Whether it's in the run game or pass game, he's a willing tackler. He's going to run the alley and hit people," the coach said. "In the pass game, he's more than willing to get physical with people. That's where he likes to be. In press coverage situations or at safety, he's a very physical football player." Penn State couldn't be happier about it. Te c h n i c a l l y t h e lowest-ranked player in the Nittany Lions' signing class, finish- ing the cycle at No. 851 in the On3 In- dustry Ranking, Johnson has captured the attention of Penn State's staff for his potential. Whether he plays at corner under the tutelage of Terry Smith, or safety with assistant Anthony Poindex- ter, he displays the physicality that has become a trademark of the Penn State defense. "When we first laid eyes on his tape, he was de-cleating ball carriers from the cornerback position, which is rare," Penn State recruiting coordinator Alan Zemaitis said. "Usually, you see that from the safety position or the line- backer position, but not from the cor- nerback position. "As you see from our own defensive backfield here at Penn State, physical- ity won't be something that's low on our priority list. That's non-negotiable. That's a standard." Clocking 40-yard times in the low 4.5-second range early in his recruit- ment, Johnson re- ceived his first Power Four scholarship of- fer from the Nittany Lions in November 2023 following his first visit to campus. Gradually garnering interest from Lou- i sv i l l e , M i c h i ga n , Iowa, Michigan State and others, Johnson we n t o n ba c k- to - back weekend visits to the Nittany Lions and Cardinals last summer. Surprising some observers, he made an initial commit- ment to Louisville on June 14, 2024. But the relationship between Johnson and the Nit- ta ny L i o n s d i d n 't wane, and a fourth visit to Penn State's campus for the UCLA game last October changed his perspective on his future football destination. After decommit- ting from the Cardinals on Oct. 9, just days after his Penn State visit, Johnson made the call for the Nittany Lions on Oct. 14. "Going back to the beginning when they first started recruiting me, they were trying to build a different kind of relationship with me," Johnson said. "They took their time through every aspect of this whole process. They really built our relationship all around family. Seeing how they've stayed on me and continued to stress that family atmo- sphere and what it can do for me, I do believe that's the best place for me." — Nate Bauer Johnson committed to Louisville initially, but later changed his mind and pledged to the Nittany Lions in mid-October. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER JOSH JOHNSON Ohio prospect brings versatility to Penn State's defensive backfield S | 6-2 | 185 Ironton Ironton, Ohio Rankings Stars Nat. Pos. State On3 Industry ★★★ 851 82 33 On3 ★★★ — 52 20 247Sports ★★★ — 51 20 ESPN ★★★ — 70 32 Rivals ★★★ — — — Statistics • Totaled 51 tackles, 2 interceptions and 11 pass breakups as a senior during a 13-1 season with the Fighting Tigers • Finished junior year with 64 tackles and 4 picks as part of an 11-2 season Notable • Helped Ironton win the Ohio Division V state championship in 2024 • First-team All-Ohio Division V selection as a senior Recruitment • Originally committed to Louisville on June 14, 2024 • Picked Penn State following an unofficial visit for the UCLA game on Oct. 5, 2024 • Decided on the Nittany Lions over Louisville on Oct. 14, 2024 • Officially visited Penn State on June 7 2025 Projection Johnson's career trajectory can go a number of ways when he gets into the structure of a college weight program. Originally projected as a cornerback, he could end up a safety. He's still raw physically, and a late arrival to cam- pus should result in a redshirt. They Said It On3 scouting director Charles Power: "As a corner, I think he's an outstanding tackler, an outstanding run defender, and really skilled at defending the quick game. He's always mak- ing tackles against the run and patrolling the flats. He tends to be around the football a lot and certainly doesn't shy away from contact. You have to love that willingness to bring down ball carriers and tackle with great form." T H E J O H N S O N F I L E