Arizona Cardinals '2020-2022 OL - Paris Johnson Jr. ('22 Consensus All-American, '22 First Team All-BIG)

Blessed to have the opportunity to spend time with Coach Harbaugh today! pic.twitter.com/WXoH3kOmKO

— Paris Johnson Jr. (@ParisJohnsonJr) March 17, 2018

 

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St. Xavier offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. commits to the 2020 All-American Bowl https://t.co/vM9tMOt8lj @stxsports @WCPO @MaxPreps @OHSAASports @ErikRichardsUSA @SWiltfong247

— Mike Dyer (@MikeDyer) March 19, 2018

 

Latest #OhioState visit for country's No. 1 O-tackle @ParisJohnsonJr very impressive VIP https://t.co/J4QiF1vpWt

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) March 31, 2018

 

Top-ranked 2020 OT Paris Johnson Jr. gives highlights from his visit to #Pitt including time with Coach Narduzzi and Coach Borbely. https://t.co/BTpJWzRE2n

— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) April 4, 2018

 

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Football University alum Paris Johnson Jr. is committed to play in the 2020 #AllAmerican Bowl 🇺🇸

F B 👏👏U Know ! pic.twitter.com/04wgZmsSFY

— Football University (@FBUcamp) April 5, 2018

 

TAKING HIS TIME
Ohio State also recently welcomed Cincinnati St. Xavier four-star offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. to campus for an unofficial visit, his fourth trip to Columbus since the Buckeyes offered him a scholarship in early December.

He was also joined by his mother, Monica.

“We had a great visit,” Johnson told Eleven Warriors. “We enjoyed watching them practice. Their competition drills were great to watch.”

The 6-foot-7, 275-pound Johnson is considered the top-rated offensive tackle and No. 7 prospect overall in the Class of 2020. He now holds more than 30 offers from programs such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pittsburgh and Stanford, but Ohio State certainly has the advantage of proximity on its side.

That said, the staff watched as five-star offensive tackle Jackson Carman — who also hailed from the greater Cincinnati area — spurned them for the Tigers last cycle, and they’re doing their best to get Johnson on campus as much as possible to prevent the same thing from happening once again. Meyer, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and offensive line coach Greg Studrawa also continue to preach to him the life-after-football aspect of the program. After all, Johnson plans to be a sports analysts and entrepreneur after his on-field career has come to a close.

“We talked about development and opportunities that are offered at the university as a student-athlete,” Johnson said.

Johnson doesn’t plan to make a decision on his future until National Signing Day and is simply enjoying the recruiting process right now. He’s recently traveled to Ann Arbor, Bloomington, Cincinnati, East Lansing, Lexington, Louisville, Pittsburgh and State College and has a return to trip to Columbus on the docket for April 14, the date of the Spring Game.

“[I’m just looking forward to] building relationships with the coaching staff and players,” Johnson said.

 

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Great Spring Game w/ Coach @RUNBYU ‼️#GoBucks🌰 #LXXVII pic.twitter.com/Qc5XfKWkwW

— Paris Johnson Jr. (@ParisJohnsonJr) April 14, 2018

 

Cincinnati St. Xavier 2020 OT Paris Johnson is making his second visit to Ohio State in as many weeks for the spring game. pic.twitter.com/okMwOuKHXs

— Garrett Stepien (@GarrettStepien) April 14, 2018

 

Paris Johnson Jr., the country’s top 2020 OL, builds special bond with Ohio State LB Justin Hilliard

Cincinnati St. Xavier has churned out elite talent year after year, and few programs covet the Bombers’ talent in the way that Urban Meyer’s Ohio State regime has. It was St. Xavier that launched Meyer’s coaching career in 1985 and he’s returned the favor ever since, heavily recruiting the program any time it has Division I prospects.

Tackle Paris Johnson Jr., already regarded as the top 2020 offensive lineman in the country by 247Sports and a top-10 prospect nationally, has a chance to be as good as any player out of St. Xavier in recent memory. Ohio State offered Johnson in December 2017, the midway point of his sophomore year, and has continued to heavily recruit the 6-foot-7, 275-pound standout since.

Johnson has been a frequent visitor to Ohio State since landing the offer, visiting most recently for the Buckeyes spring game on Saturday. After seeing the program up close and personal so often, Johnson knows what to expect, but he was still impressed by the fan support.

“This trip was great, it was great to see the players competing. We enjoyed seeing the fans coming out to support their players during the spring game,” Johnson said.

The more interesting part of his visit came in the lead-up to the spring game, during which Johnson spent more time with a fellow St. Xavier alum, redshirt junior linebacker Justin Hilliard.

“I was able to speak with Justin Hilliard, [junior offensive lineman] Michael Jordan, and Coach Stud [Greg Studrawa]. [Hilliard and I] talked about the connection between St. Xavier and Ohio State and also his transition from high school to college,” Johnson said. “He just told me to work hard before I transition into college so that I can come in ready to compete.”

Hilliard graduated from St. Xavier in 2015 as a 5-star prospect and became one of Meyer’s signature in-state recruiting victories at Ohio State. Few players can relate to the experience of being so highly recruited so early on in their high school careers, but Hilliard has been an outlet and adviser for the elite young recruit.

“I talked with Paris when he was up here and we talk often. He’s such a good kid,” Hilliard told Land of 10 following Johnson’s previous March 30 visit to Ohio State. “It’s so funny because I can see exactly the sort of things he’s going through and relating to, especially through the recruiting process. He’s getting all of these offers. I’ve been trying to help him as much as I can.”

The duo have spoken frequently since Johnson’s recruitment took off, with Hilliard offering counsel on what it’s like dealing with college coaches coming by your high school and looking to call and text you near-constantly. In his high school career, Hilliard had 37 Division I scholarship offers. Johnson may soon eclipse that total, as he’s already gathered 35. Who better to offer advice?

“It’s just been so cool because some guys don’t reach out, but Paris reached out as soon as his offers started picking up. Coach [Steve] Specht, our head coach at St. X, gave me his number and I reached out to him,” Hilliard said. “Ever since, we’ve been kind of going back and forth.”

With the demanding fall schedule of Ohio State football and the complete lack of free time that comes with being a Division I athlete, Hilliard has yet to see Johnson play. Still, St. X alums tend to talk about the program, and the whispers about Johnson have caught Hilliard’s attention.

“Some of the rumors I’ve heard about his motor and things like that, he stacks up just as high as anybody out of St. X,” Hilliard said.

When you’re considering a program that has produced nearly 40 Division I football players in the last 10 recruiting classes, including Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, the 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, that’s high praise indeed.


Paris Johnson Jr. (left) and Justin Hilliard pose together during a recent visit to campus for Johnson. (Paris Johnson Jr./Twitter)

 

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The nation's No. 1 2020 OT Paris Johnson Jr. has a huge slate of June visits scheduled beginning with #Alabama and ending out West: https://t.co/FraNR10395

— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) May 22, 2018

 

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