2021 Killian (FL) LB Tyler Johnson signed with the Miami Hurricanes today.
The 6-2, 200-pounder is currently a consensus 3-star in the national rankings. According to the 247Composite, Johnson is the #529 player nationally, the #31 OLB in the country, and the #77 player in Florida.
Recruiting Story
It’s been stated many times at this point, but here’s one more for good measure: Tyler is the younger brother of former Hurricanes safety Jaquan Johnson. At Paradise Camp in July 2018, Johnson played a lot of linebacker and earned his UM offer the next day. Johnson always wanted to be a Hurricane and it wouldn’t take long for him to come aboard. He committed to the Canes at junior day in February of 2019 and didn’t entertain other offers the rest of the way through. UGA was Johnson’s other major offer at the time. Johnson was arguably Miami’s quietest commit in the class, as he shied away from interviews and social media throughout the process.
Evaluation
Although the Canes took Johnson as a linebacker, most of his tape is at DE in high school; basically every film clip is of him rushing the passer, either with his hand on the ground or standing up just off the edge, although he did play more LB as a senior this season. Johnson received rave reviews at Paradise Camp 2019, with many observers and staffers calling him the best LB in attendance. Johnson was stifling in the cat and mouse drills, winning every rep I saw out there. He proved he could stick at linebacker long term and that versatility will go a long way in providing value to Miami, because his speed rushing in off the edge is a problem for offenses.
Johnson’s feet never stop moving, and that’s key for someone that’s undersized like he is right now going up against much larger offensive linemen and tight ends. Johnson is all speed, and it is hard for high school level offensive lineman to even get a hand on him with his quick first step. He rushes in with good lean and dips low to propel himself around the edge. Johnson flashes disruptive qualities in gaps and seemingly always finds a window to knife his way into the backfield. Just like his brother, coaches and teammates are effusive in their praise of Tyler, calling him a weight room warrior, hard worker, and a leader both on and off the field.
The Team
Johnson joins Edgewater (FL) 3-star Deshawn Troutman as UM’s two LB signees in the class. The linebacker position was arguably Miami’s biggest weakness during the 2020 season, as the group really struggled with an overall lack of speed and maintaining their run fits. Zach McCloud has been at Miami for 5 years and could easily call it a career, while BJ Jennings should not feel safe in his starting role. Young talents like Sam Brooks and Corey Flagg flashed at various points of the season and will have every opportunity to overtake McCloud and Jennings in 2021. Waynmon Steed finally stayed healthy this season and looks like a solid depth player, while Tirek Austin-Cave and Avery Huff are talents UM is still high on for the future.
Redshirt Probability: 5/10
There’s potentially going to be a logjam at LB in terms of numbers, but the depth chart is littered with uninspiring veterans and mostly unproven youngsters. That creates an opening for a player like Johnson that possesses the speed upgrade UM has been looking to infuse into this LB group, although Johnson is going to have an adjustment period to playing the position full-time. How quickly he makes that adjustment and gets the defensive scheme down will ultimately determine if he takes a redshirt or not, but he will be aided in his quest for PT by enrolling in time for spring ball.
The 6-2, 200-pounder is currently a consensus 3-star in the national rankings. According to the 247Composite, Johnson is the #529 player nationally, the #31 OLB in the country, and the #77 player in Florida.
Recruiting Story
It’s been stated many times at this point, but here’s one more for good measure: Tyler is the younger brother of former Hurricanes safety Jaquan Johnson. At Paradise Camp in July 2018, Johnson played a lot of linebacker and earned his UM offer the next day. Johnson always wanted to be a Hurricane and it wouldn’t take long for him to come aboard. He committed to the Canes at junior day in February of 2019 and didn’t entertain other offers the rest of the way through. UGA was Johnson’s other major offer at the time. Johnson was arguably Miami’s quietest commit in the class, as he shied away from interviews and social media throughout the process.
Evaluation
Although the Canes took Johnson as a linebacker, most of his tape is at DE in high school; basically every film clip is of him rushing the passer, either with his hand on the ground or standing up just off the edge, although he did play more LB as a senior this season. Johnson received rave reviews at Paradise Camp 2019, with many observers and staffers calling him the best LB in attendance. Johnson was stifling in the cat and mouse drills, winning every rep I saw out there. He proved he could stick at linebacker long term and that versatility will go a long way in providing value to Miami, because his speed rushing in off the edge is a problem for offenses.
Johnson’s feet never stop moving, and that’s key for someone that’s undersized like he is right now going up against much larger offensive linemen and tight ends. Johnson is all speed, and it is hard for high school level offensive lineman to even get a hand on him with his quick first step. He rushes in with good lean and dips low to propel himself around the edge. Johnson flashes disruptive qualities in gaps and seemingly always finds a window to knife his way into the backfield. Just like his brother, coaches and teammates are effusive in their praise of Tyler, calling him a weight room warrior, hard worker, and a leader both on and off the field.
The Team
Johnson joins Edgewater (FL) 3-star Deshawn Troutman as UM’s two LB signees in the class. The linebacker position was arguably Miami’s biggest weakness during the 2020 season, as the group really struggled with an overall lack of speed and maintaining their run fits. Zach McCloud has been at Miami for 5 years and could easily call it a career, while BJ Jennings should not feel safe in his starting role. Young talents like Sam Brooks and Corey Flagg flashed at various points of the season and will have every opportunity to overtake McCloud and Jennings in 2021. Waynmon Steed finally stayed healthy this season and looks like a solid depth player, while Tirek Austin-Cave and Avery Huff are talents UM is still high on for the future.
Redshirt Probability: 5/10
There’s potentially going to be a logjam at LB in terms of numbers, but the depth chart is littered with uninspiring veterans and mostly unproven youngsters. That creates an opening for a player like Johnson that possesses the speed upgrade UM has been looking to infuse into this LB group, although Johnson is going to have an adjustment period to playing the position full-time. How quickly he makes that adjustment and gets the defensive scheme down will ultimately determine if he takes a redshirt or not, but he will be aided in his quest for PT by enrolling in time for spring ball.
