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2021 4-star OT Caleb Johnson is one of the top offensive linemen on the Miami Hurricanes’ board for this cycle, and the Trinity Catholic (FL) star has been reciprocating that interest since he was offered back in late January.
One of the main reasons UM is positioned so well? Miami O-Line coach Garin Justice.
“It’s mostly because of coach Justice,” Johnson said about why he is considering UM. “Me and my dad like how he teaches and his technique, we really think he knows what he’s doing. We just really like coach Justice.”
Justice and Johnson met at a camp event a few months back and have hit it off ever since. Johnson has even been sending Justice daily videos of his workouts during the quarantine, and the UM offensive line coach will provide him feedback on how to improve.
“Our relationship is really good,” Johnson said of Justice. “We’ve got a little thing going on right now where I’ll workout in the weight room, go outside and do some O-Line drills, my dad films it, and we’ll send it to Justice. He gives us pointers and then next time I’ll use it to get better. It’s kind of been like that for a week now - it’s definitely helped, constant improvement.
“I’ll do that with a few other coaches too, but he’s definitely one of the few. [The coaches] can’t really do much right now, so they’re practically begging me for something to breakdown and teach off of. It’s good for me and it’s good for them.”
Although Justice hasn’t gone into much detail with Johnson regarding the new offense at Miami, Johnson says he’s confident that his playing style can conform to any system.
“We haven’t talked a lot about it, it’s mostly been technique work and that kind of talk,” Johnson said. “But we’re probably going to get into that shortly. I feel like I’d be fine in any offensive situation or scenario.
“I think we’ve got the best job ever in football, because we are just big dudes that throw other big dudes around and get praised for it. I just like the competition, that’s really fun. The physicality of when you’re in an actual game is awesome.”
The 6-7 295 pound lineman last visited Miami during the 2018 season for a game day, and was hoping to see a spring practice at UM this year, but Johnson says at this point he’s just hoping to return to Miami whenever he is allowed.
“I went down there my sophomore year, it was a group thing with some teammates from school,” Johnson said. “Just seeing that place, watching a game, taking in the stadium, and just knowing that I could be there, it was a really cool experience.
“I think we’ll get down there for a practice at some point, but it’s hard to say when right now. The NCAA is saying visits can happen starting May 30th, but honestly with how it’s been going, I don’t know. It’s craziness.”
Aside from the Hurricanes, Auburn is another program that has stood out to Johnson thus far, and he spoke on what has him interested in the Tigers.
“Definitely the O-Line coach, Jack Bicknell,” Johnson said. “Also my mom is very interested in them, she loves them. She has a few friends there that live in the area and they brainwash her.”
As of now, Johnson has his first official visit of the process set to Auburn for June 5th weekend, and he last visited the Tigers in November for their down-to-the-wire Iron Bowl win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.
“We were right behind the endzone where the field goal bounced off the post, it was crazy,” Johnson said of the experience.
Following the Auburn OV, Johnson plans on taking two more official visits this summer, including to Notre Dame on June 12th weekend and to Penn State on June 19th weekend. As for his final two official visits, Johnson said he wasn’t quite ready to set those and finalize a top 5.
“Me and my dad were talking about narrowing things down a bit so my phone isn’t blowing up from coaches every 2 seconds, but I don’t think we’re going to do it,” Johnson said. “We’re just going to keep on talking to coaches, keep on trying to see which schools are the best fit for me.”
Johnson is still unclear on a timeline for when he’d like to make a decision by, but he does have a list of factors that will make a program more appealing to him.
“The major three are just the O-Line and strength coaches, which coaches are the best at what they do?” Johnson said. “Then the stability of the staff - are they likely to disperse or get fired soon after I get there? And then also, the feel of the place. You’re going to be there for a long time, so you might as well love it.”
As a junior in 2019, Johnson played mostly right tackle for the 8-4 Celtics, and he is working on continuing to develop his game heading into the summer to ready for a strong senior campaign.
“I think I’ve gotten better at the offseason part of football,” Johnson said. “Just technique-wise and strength-wise, definitely gotten better since the season. So I think senior year, especially for me and Jake (Slaughter), and the other O-Linemen coming in, it’s going to be a great season.”
Slaughter is good friends and O-Line teammates with Johnson at Trinity Catholic, and UM is after the pair as Justice offered both at around the same time. Although Johnson doesn’t rule out playing with Slaughter at the next level, he says he doesn’t think it is likely to happen at this point.
“It’d be awesome, but in reality, it’s definitely very low percentages,” Johnson said. “But you never know honestly, something crazy could happen.”
One of the main reasons UM is positioned so well? Miami O-Line coach Garin Justice.
“It’s mostly because of coach Justice,” Johnson said about why he is considering UM. “Me and my dad like how he teaches and his technique, we really think he knows what he’s doing. We just really like coach Justice.”
Justice and Johnson met at a camp event a few months back and have hit it off ever since. Johnson has even been sending Justice daily videos of his workouts during the quarantine, and the UM offensive line coach will provide him feedback on how to improve.
“Our relationship is really good,” Johnson said of Justice. “We’ve got a little thing going on right now where I’ll workout in the weight room, go outside and do some O-Line drills, my dad films it, and we’ll send it to Justice. He gives us pointers and then next time I’ll use it to get better. It’s kind of been like that for a week now - it’s definitely helped, constant improvement.
“I’ll do that with a few other coaches too, but he’s definitely one of the few. [The coaches] can’t really do much right now, so they’re practically begging me for something to breakdown and teach off of. It’s good for me and it’s good for them.”
Although Justice hasn’t gone into much detail with Johnson regarding the new offense at Miami, Johnson says he’s confident that his playing style can conform to any system.
“We haven’t talked a lot about it, it’s mostly been technique work and that kind of talk,” Johnson said. “But we’re probably going to get into that shortly. I feel like I’d be fine in any offensive situation or scenario.
“I think we’ve got the best job ever in football, because we are just big dudes that throw other big dudes around and get praised for it. I just like the competition, that’s really fun. The physicality of when you’re in an actual game is awesome.”
The 6-7 295 pound lineman last visited Miami during the 2018 season for a game day, and was hoping to see a spring practice at UM this year, but Johnson says at this point he’s just hoping to return to Miami whenever he is allowed.
“I went down there my sophomore year, it was a group thing with some teammates from school,” Johnson said. “Just seeing that place, watching a game, taking in the stadium, and just knowing that I could be there, it was a really cool experience.
“I think we’ll get down there for a practice at some point, but it’s hard to say when right now. The NCAA is saying visits can happen starting May 30th, but honestly with how it’s been going, I don’t know. It’s craziness.”
Aside from the Hurricanes, Auburn is another program that has stood out to Johnson thus far, and he spoke on what has him interested in the Tigers.
“Definitely the O-Line coach, Jack Bicknell,” Johnson said. “Also my mom is very interested in them, she loves them. She has a few friends there that live in the area and they brainwash her.”
As of now, Johnson has his first official visit of the process set to Auburn for June 5th weekend, and he last visited the Tigers in November for their down-to-the-wire Iron Bowl win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.
“We were right behind the endzone where the field goal bounced off the post, it was crazy,” Johnson said of the experience.
Following the Auburn OV, Johnson plans on taking two more official visits this summer, including to Notre Dame on June 12th weekend and to Penn State on June 19th weekend. As for his final two official visits, Johnson said he wasn’t quite ready to set those and finalize a top 5.
“Me and my dad were talking about narrowing things down a bit so my phone isn’t blowing up from coaches every 2 seconds, but I don’t think we’re going to do it,” Johnson said. “We’re just going to keep on talking to coaches, keep on trying to see which schools are the best fit for me.”
Johnson is still unclear on a timeline for when he’d like to make a decision by, but he does have a list of factors that will make a program more appealing to him.
“The major three are just the O-Line and strength coaches, which coaches are the best at what they do?” Johnson said. “Then the stability of the staff - are they likely to disperse or get fired soon after I get there? And then also, the feel of the place. You’re going to be there for a long time, so you might as well love it.”
As a junior in 2019, Johnson played mostly right tackle for the 8-4 Celtics, and he is working on continuing to develop his game heading into the summer to ready for a strong senior campaign.
“I think I’ve gotten better at the offseason part of football,” Johnson said. “Just technique-wise and strength-wise, definitely gotten better since the season. So I think senior year, especially for me and Jake (Slaughter), and the other O-Linemen coming in, it’s going to be a great season.”
Slaughter is good friends and O-Line teammates with Johnson at Trinity Catholic, and UM is after the pair as Justice offered both at around the same time. Although Johnson doesn’t rule out playing with Slaughter at the next level, he says he doesn’t think it is likely to happen at this point.
“It’d be awesome, but in reality, it’s definitely very low percentages,” Johnson said. “But you never know honestly, something crazy could happen.”
