"West Virginia, Miami, Ole Miss, and Oregon have been the schools that
I have been keeping in contact with a lot," added Will Johnson. "Minnesota
too. Iowa is a good school but I have not even had any communication with them
in the past month and half, so."
One of his early leaders, Ole Miss, recently let go their head coach in Houston Nutt.
"They have not called me yet about that situation but whoever comes in
will say a lot about what I am going to do with Ole Miss. Their new coach needs
to verify with me that I still have my offer. It is a good school so I hope
their new staff feels the same as their old one did. I really liked it down
there on my visits. I did not know this was coming (with Nutt's dismissal) so
I really do not know what to say. I have not talked to them yet about everything."
Minnesota, along with Ole Miss and Iowa, have been a long favorite.
"For them it is just their staff. I really like those guys. They just seem
like a good staff to play for. They offered me as a tight and are looking for
me to start playing as soon as I get there. That's always big."
Scout.com's #38 rated tight end is also being looked at for defensive end but
would rather stay on the offenisve side of the ball on the next level.
"Miami said they were recruiting me as a tight end. They want to meet me
in person and get me down there as soon as possible. They are definitely recruiting
me as a tight end and some other schools do not know yet where I will play.
I could play linebacker, defensive end, or tight end with them but Miami definitely
likes me at tight end."
"Oregon brought a coach over here and talked to me about their offense.
They play fast and let their athletes make plays. They just play football at
Oregon. They graduate their players and it's just a top notch impressive program."
Have the new schools on his list, West Virginia/Oregon/Miami, offered yet?
"Miami just started getting in contact and they are going to bring me down
there for a visit in December. West Virginia has been the same way. If I decide
to go over there for an official visit I think they are going to offer. They
have a good coach and I am definitely interested in them. I also like the fact
that they have a stable coaching staff. Oregon came over to scout me and were
impressed. They just do not know yet if they are going to offer me as a tight
end or defensive end, so."
Will's season ended last Friday in the Regional Finals to Wayzato. They finished
the year 9-2.
"We won some big games and beat some good teams. I think definitely my
speed and knowledge of the game improved. Last year I just felt like I was playing
football but this year they seemed like small because I was so much more experienced.
I played much quicker."
Yancy Porter is the Mississippi Scout for Scout.com and he can be reached at
yporter@scout.com