Top 2019 QB On Irish Radar, But He Hopes To Hear More
Michael Johnson Jr. has received some pretty strong preliminary interest from Notre Dame, but the 2019 California quarterback is still waiting for the Irish to take the next step.
“I’ve gotten a couple letters from them,” the 6-foot-3, 180-pounder from Sunnyvale, Calif., said.
“Last year, Coach (Mike) Sanford, who is not there anymore, came to the school. I talked to him a little bit. I haven’t called them much since they haven’t offered yet, but they’re a good program, so I’m still keeping in touch with them.”
Johnson Jr. already has offers from Florida State, Cal, Arizona, Louisville, Mississippi State, Texas Tech, West Virginia and Colorado State.
“It’s just an honor,” the sophomore signal-caller said of the early offers. “It’s all about keeping your head straight, staying humble and keep working hard.”
College scouts like his ability as a dual-threat prospect.
“They just say they like how I can throw the ball and run the ball of course,” Johnson Jr. said. “They like that my football IQ is high and I know a lot about the game, stuff like protections and a little bit concepts and stuff like that.”
The Kings Academy standout is hoping to learn more about Notre Dame in the coming months and years.
“I don’t know much about Notre Dame,” he admitted. “I have a family friend who went to Notre Dame, Amir Carlisle.”
Johnson Jr. has talked with the former Irish receiver.
“Amir liked it,” he said. “He loved it, he thought it was a good program. Me and his little brother are on the same team and he’s been around a lot now, so I’ve talked to him about it a bunch.”
As for the next step between him and the Irish, Johnson Jr. says that’s up to them.
“It’s really up to Notre Dame more than me to see how much they want to talk to me,” he said. “The door is always open for me. I just don’t really have any connections to Notre Dame since Sanford is gone.”
He made a trip out to Florida to see the Seminoles and Gators last summer and said he’d welcome the opportunity to get to South Bend if the Irish ramp up their interest.
“Yeah, of course,” he said. “Before I make my decision.”
He does know what he’s looking for in a college program.
“The most important factors are going to be the ability to develop me as a football player and as a person and also a good relationship with the coaches.”