Coach | 2021 OL Commit Caleb Johnson Will Be Huge Asset For Notre Dame
Caleb Johnson was clearly blessed with the physical gifts necessary to play at the highest level of college football, but Trinity Catholic head coach John Brantley III points to an intangible first when describing the 2021 Florida offensive lineman, who is set to sign with Notre Dame on Wednesday.
“Work ethic,” Brantley III says. “He probably has as strong a work ethic as any person I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach. At the high school level, that’s tremendous. You don’t always find that.
“The other thing he’s got, he’s got size. I’ve had a bunch of kids recruited at Trinity Catholic over the years and especially offensive tackles. They’re looking for that height and that length out there to do some things and he has all of those attributes that you’re looking for in a tackle.”
The 6-foot-7, 295-pounder was one of three 2021 offensive linemen Brantley III coached who are headed to high-majors along Garner Langlo (Auburn) and Jake Slaughter (Florida).
“They were together last year and spent the whole offseason together working out,” Brantley III says.
Brantley III also gives credit to Johnson’s father, Aaron, who played offensive line on the college and pro levels.
“He understands how the game’s played,” says Brantley III. “He did a lot of research and has called in a lot of contacts and friends to help his kids.”
Johnson and his father have a great relationship, but the elder Johnson recognized the importance of getting others involved with Caleb’s development.
“Sometimes it’s better to hear it from somebody else than your parent,” says Brantley III, whose son John Brantley IV was a five-star quarterback in the Class of 2007 before going to Florida.
“I let Kerwin Bell coach (my son) in high school. He needed to hear it from somebody else besides his dad. Caleb and his dad have a great relationship. I think that had a lot to do with Caleb’s success, what his dad was able to do for him.”
Brantley III believes Notre Dame is going to be a great fit for Johnson.
“Notre Dame’s a top program,” the coach says. “I’m an old Florida Gator, played for the Gators, I had a son who played for the Gators. I know what these programs are looking for. I know what they’re about. Caleb is going to have a great opportunity to go up there and hopefully play for a national championship. That’s what you do when you go to the next level, but always remember, there are a lot of players just as good as he is who he’s going to be competing with.
“As Dan Mullen told my son when he went to Florida as a quarterback, ‘Don’t worry about who’s here, worry about who’s coming.’ He’s going to have competition all of the time. If he’s up to the task, which I believe he is, it’s only going to make him better and I think he’s going to be a huge asset for Notre Dame.”
Brantley III says Johnson is a pleasure to coach.
“The thing that’s good about him is he’s quiet. You get some of these people all over Twitter and social media. I guess I can call Caleb an old-country boy from Indiana. I didn’t know if there were any. I’m a Southern boy, so I don’t know, but if there are Southern boys in Indiana, he would qualify as that. He’s just a good, quiet kid. He goes about his work. Those are the ones you enjoy coaching.”