Philadelphia linebacker C.J. Johnson, No. 10, is one of two juniors from Mississippi high schools who have committed to Mississippi State this year, joining a growing trend of players making college choices long before they can sign scholarship papers. (Bill Simmonds/The Clarion-Ledger)
C.J. Johnson turned 16 in May.
He got his intermediate driver’s license in September.
And just last week, the Philadelphia High School linebacker made a non-binding verbal commitment to play football at Mississippi State.
But he can’t sign the scholarship papers until 2011, because he’s just a junior in high school.
Johnson is one of two Mississippi high school players (Harrison Central offensive lineman Nick Redmond is the other) getting early starts in the recruiting process, doing what some suggest may be the newest trend in recruiting: choosing a college long before that senior year gets here.
“I think that’s definitely where we are headed,” said Jeremy Crabtree, national recruiting editor for recruiting service rivals.com. “You get your dream scholarship offer from a school and you have to jump on it. Schools are offering earlier and earlier nowadays and it’s a situation where the early bird does get the worm when it comes to the top talent.”
There is no limit on the number of players a school can offer scholarships to, but NCAA rules allow each team to enroll a maximum of 25 new scholarship players each fall.
Coaches are allowed to make written scholarship offers on Sept. 1 of a prospect’s junior season.
When Redmond, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound right tackle, got his offer from MSU in the mail last month, he pounced.
“I think I got my letter on the 9th (of Sept.) and I committed on the 10th,” said Redmond. “It’s a full scholarship to an SEC school. I have about nine >>> click here to read more from Rod Walker of the Clarion Ledger.
