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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a roster full of players, and we want to talk about them all. One Foot Down’s player profile series will, once again, take a look at every single one of them, and hopefully we all learn a little bit more about these guys, and Notre Dame’s chances for the upcoming 2021 season.
#20 JoJo Johnson, Cornerback
JoJo Johnson committed to the Irish on November 24, 2020 as a member of the 2021 recruiting class. Johnson selected the Irish over offers from Cincinnati, Iowa, Michigan State, Purdue, and Washington State, among others. Johnson was already on the radar of cornerback coach, Mike Mickens, while at Cincinnati. When Mickens joined the Irish staff, the recruitment continued in earnest. Johnson held a 3-star ranking per 247Sports Composite Rankings. He was rated as the 11th best player in the state of Indiana, 52nd best athlete, and 710th best overall player in the class of 2021.
As a senior in high school, Johnson played both ways. Defensively, Johnson notched 17 tackles, 7 pass breakups, and recovered 1 fumble. Offensively, Johnson played multiple positions. He racked up 878 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 47 catches, while also rushing for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns. Johnson attended Merrilville High School, and his hometown is Merrilville, Indiana. He currently stands 5’10’’ and weighs 175 pounds.
The Restaurant That Fits
Olive Garden
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Growing up, Olive Garden was the place to go. The prices were cheap, I loved Italian food, and there was a restaurant right down the road from me. What I came to find out as I grew up was that, while Olive Garden certainly had potential, I had evolved to appreciate higher quality Italian food. I still do eat there occasionally but only in a pinch. In a similar fashion, JoJo Johnson seems to be the type of prospect that is going to be around for 4 years and always be in the running for a contributing role on defense. While he never may be a star at corner, he possesses the traits to become a dependable player in the program.
2021 Outlook
Heading into fall camp, it is fair to assume that JoJo Johnson will not be manning the Field or Boundary cornerback position. However, the Nickel cornerback position is a bit murkier. Johnson will join Tariq Bracy, Ramon Henderson, Phillip Riley, and Ryan Barnes in a spirited battle for the third corner position. Regardless of what happens on the defensive side of the ball, Johnson’s athleticism should give him a good shot at landing a spot on one of the special teams’ units.