Jamaal Johnson, Miami’s first 2022 commit, is happy to continue UM’s Chaminade ‘pipeline’
Three months and one day after Allan Haye orally committed to the Miami Hurricanes, Jamaal Johnson decided he was ready to do the same.
The two Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna defensive lineman had spent more than a year talking about where football would take them once they finished high school. They thought about playing together in college and even the NFL. Miami, which has landed more players from Chaminade-Madonna than any other school in the last three years, always made sense as a next step.
“The pipeline,” Johnson called it.
Haye committed last spring, then signed his national letter of intent with the Hurricanes in the early signing period. Lions running back Thad Franklin did the same. Miami had two more from Chaminade-Madonna and Johnson, who became the first player to commit to the Hurricanes’ Class of 2022 last year, is excited to be the next.
“The staff — they love Chaminade,” Johnson said. “That’s their go-to when it comes to recruiting guys. We’ve just got a good relationship with the staff.”
It has helped Miami land some of the Lions’ biggest stars — like defensive backs Keontra Smith and Te’Cory Couch, who were both high All-Americans — and land some undervalued gems. Defensive lineman Cameron Williams, for example, was only a three-star defensive end, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings, but started for the Hurricanes in the 2020 Cheez-It Bowl and could be a full-time starter as a redshirt sophomore this year.
Jamaal Johnson’s a potential steal
Johnson, who currently sits outside the top 600 for the 2022 class, fits firmly into the latter category. Even playing alongside Haye and four-star defensive end Kenyatta Jackson, Johnson was Chaminade-Madonna’s most productive defensive lineman in 2020 with 54 tackles, 13 sacks and an interception for the Class 3A runner-up.
“He’s a weight room freak, so I feel like he got better over time,” Lions coach Dameon Jones said. “He’s just a freak who works his tail off. That’s what Miami’s getting out of him — just a bull pass rusher that is athletic and strong, and high football IQ and his character is unbelievable.”
Johnson finished his sophomore season with eight sacks and an extra year of development — even with the COVID-19 disruption — transformed him into one of South Florida’s best defensive players regardless of position. The 6-2, 240-pound junior was quick enough to torment tackles off the edge, and strong enough to move inside and play some defensive tackle on obvious passing downs.
While Johnson could potentially grow into a defensive tackle, Jones said he doesn’t think he will and Johnson’s physical profile matches up pretty neatly with star edge rusher Quincy Roche, who could be a second-day pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Miami’s chances with Kenyatta Jackson
In some ways, it made Chaminade-Madonna’s defensive end combo parallel the Hurricanes’.
Jackson is the No. 82 player in the country, and the more prototypical prospect at 6-5 and 231 pounds. He claims early offers from the Clemson Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks, but Miami, given its history with the Lions, will be in the thick of the elite defensive lineman’s recruitment, too. Johnson’s presence can only help.
“I always tell him I want them to do what’s best for them,” he said, “but I’m always in his ear.”
Johnson has, however, been in regular contact with four-star Carrollwood Day defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland — the only other player committed in the 2022 class.
Jamaal Johnson keeps ‘options open’
Still, Johnson wants to take some other visits, too. He has been to Coral Gables a couple times — including once last year before the coronavirus pandemic led to an ongoing dead period — but hasn’t visited anywhere else. He only claims about a dozen offers — and didn’t start pulling any in until last year — so he currently hopes to check out the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and West Virginia Mountaineers.
“I’m just more so keeping my options open,” Johnson said. “You never know what happens in life.”
For now, the three-star defensive end’s commitment to the Hurricanes is rock solid. Miami was first to offer him last year and Johnson said he has a really strong relationship with Todd Stroud, who moved from defensive line coach to senior football advisor last month.
His affinity for the Hurricanes, though, goes back to even before he was a recruit.
Johnson is cousins with former Florida State Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois, so he was a regular at Miami-Florida State games when Francois was playing.
Technically, he was there to support the Seminoles. Now he’s ready to let everyone in on a secret.
“I never told anybody,” Johnson said. “I was really rooting for Miami.
“Being a Miami kid, you have to go for the home team.”
This story was originally published February 16, 2021 at 9:37 AM.
