Dillard RB Johnson, a 3-time track state champion, commits to Miami ahead of signing day
The Miami Hurricanes have found their running back in the Class of 2023 and he’s one of the best all-around athletes in the country.
Christopher Johnson, a three-time state champion in track and field, orally committed to Miami on Sunday as he wrapped up an official visit in Coral Gables. On the football field, the four-star running back was one of the best home-run threats in South Florida as the top offensive weapon for Dillard.
Johnson’s decision come with less than two weeks to go until the early signing period begins Dec. 21. He was also considering the Ole Miss Rebels.
The 5-foot-11, 178-pound athlete is the No. 18 running back in the 2023 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. He also occasionally lines up at wide receiver and could be a weapon in the slot for the Hurricanes thanks to his track-star speed.
As a junior, Johnson won the Class 3A championship in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes, and he was the anchor for the Panthers’ 3A-winning 400 relay team in as a sophomore in 2021. He has been clocked as fast as 10.45 seconds in the 100 dash and was the Miami Herald’s Broward County Boys’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year last season.
Johnson spent most of this season focusing on Miami and Ole Miss, and took his official visit to Mississippi in November. It gave the Rebels some sustained momentum in Johnson’s recruitment, but the Hurricanes got him back to campus for an official visit this weekend and locked up his oral commitment.
It’s an important addition for Miami, which was still in need of a tailback in this recruiting class, especially after running back Jaylan Knighton decided to enter the transfer portal Tuesday. The Hurricanes also remain in contention for four-star running back Mark Fletcher, fighting with the Florida Gators to keep the Plantation American Heritage star close to home.
