Storm Johnson’s recruitment full of twists, turns
Storm Johnson said he liked everything about his official visit to Michigan State this past weekend.
Well, almost everything.
Loganville's Storm Johnson, who has over 700 yards rushing and 12 TDs in five games this season, still doesn't have a true leader in recruiting. (AJC Photo)
“It was kind of cold,” Loganville’s star running back said with a grin when I visited him at practice earlier this week. “Forty degrees and raining. It was freezing and this is October! But I guess you learn to deal with that and get used to it.”
And Johnson said he probably could get used to it. He has learned a lot about adaptability and flexibility these past few months.
Johnson transferred from Class AA juggernaut Buford to Loganville after last season. Late this summer, Johnson committed to LSU only to find out afterward the Tigers were no longer interested in his services. Since then Johnson’s recruitment has been, quite literally, all over the map.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” Johnson says of the LSU experience. “It was a setback at the beginning; I really had my heart set on LSU. But that’s just the ups and down of recruiting. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one that happened to and I’m sure I won’t be the last one either. I learn from my mistakes and just keep moving. I just need to go to a program that wants me for me and that’s what I’m looking to do right now.”
Michigan State is one such program. The Spartans are telling Johnson they believe he can have an early impact there and rolled out the red carpet for him last weekend.
“It went well. I liked the whole atmosphere and all the people there,” said Johnson, who has over 700 yards rushing and 12 TDs for Loganville this season. “It was a great game all around. [Michigan State] won in overtime, so that was pretty good. I visited the coaching staff and liked them and met the AD and the counselors. I really liked and it was a great place. It will really fit me perfect.”
But Johnson continues to look. He next plans to take a visit to Miami, then possibly North Carolina and N.C. State and “probably one more,” he said. He said he’s still hearing from Oregon, Alabama, and Kentucky, the latter to which he made an unofficial visit earlier this fall.
At one point Johnson was speaking highly of Florida State. But, he said this week, “they haven’t contacted me in a while so I guess not.”
And so it goes. At this point, Johnson admits he has no idea what the future holds. And that’s OK.
“I’m just working hard every day trying to get better and do whatever I can to help us get another W,” Johnson said. “Everything else will take care of itself.”
Johnson said fitting in and enjoying himself at Loganville has helped ease the stress of recruiting.
“The people out here in this community and the coaches and the players, they welcomed me with open arms,” Johnson said. “It’s a family atmosphere out here and everybody loves each other and knows about each other. That made the transition easier.”
When he came to Loganville, Johnson unseated running back Mykel Wyyett, who had rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore. But coach Eric Godfree said Johnson’s attitude has kept that from being an issue..
“He gets excited for Mykel and the other backs and that’s fun to see,” Godfree said. “Mykel was our featured back before. The other day against Salem, Storm had like a 60-yard run weaving back and forth but got stopped at the 1. We brought him out and MyKel went in and scored. Well Storm ran all the way from the sideline to the goal line to congratulate Mykel and was jumping up and down. That’s what kind of guy he is.”
Godfree said Johnson’s recruitment has been puzzling. At 6-foot, 210-pounds with 4.5-second speed, Godfree believes Georgia, Georgia Tech and every other school in the South should be beating down the door to get him. That hasn’t been the case of late.
“He’s one of the best high school running backs I’ve ever been around,” said Godfree, who was an assitant under Cecil Flowe at Parkview. “He’s like a combination of Sean Dawkins (Troy) and Brad Lester (Auburn). Dawkins was a bruiser and Storm is about his size. And Brad was just explosive. Storm runs the way he ran.
“I don’t know. Whoever gets him is going to get a good running back.”
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62 comments Add your comment
#2 BAMA FAN
October 9th, 2009
5:56 am
If Miami or Alabama offers the kid, he better commit fast or go to freezing Michigan St. I will let you
answer the question? Better football in the south and the girls are nicer!! ROLL TIDE!!
RomeDawg
October 9th, 2009
6:01 am
What is the “real” story here? LSU backs off and not many of the southern colleges are fighting for his services. Something isn’t adding up. Anyone know? Why did he leave Buford?
Marcus
October 9th, 2009
6:24 am
hey, man. Give FAMU a shot.
dgroy
October 9th, 2009
7:18 am
Must have a personality problem or his grades aren’t up to snuff…….something ain’t right.
Naganole
October 9th, 2009
7:18 am
Lots of rumors about Storm. Bad work ethic, is at the benefit of the huge Oline Loganville has, grades…but most agree there is some talent. Kinda surprised he isn’t being recruited by Tenn. Seems like their kind of kid…
Paddy
October 9th, 2009
8:19 am
Sounded like a good kid to me. Think he could start from day one at KY.
Air Force Recruiter
October 9th, 2009
8:25 am
You can always come to Colorado Springs and become Cody Getz backup AGAIN. How’s Karma trating you Storm?
Buford Booster
October 9th, 2009
8:33 am
Can’t imagine why any school wouldn’t want Storm and his Daddy :rolleyes: Daddy needs to take a few steps back and maybe more schools would show some interest.
RedKneckerson
October 9th, 2009
8:37 am
Why does he seem like a Tenn kid? Tenn has a full stable of backs,Brown,Oku,Williams (all freshmen)Poole Sophmore, and a host of commitments so far. I would think a team that is lagging in a run game, a team that has discipline problems would be much more suited for his services. He just needs to look around.I’m sure someone will step up for him.
Vick=Dog killing thug
October 9th, 2009
8:57 am
At one point Johnson was speaking highly of Florida State. But, he said this week, “they have contacted me in a while so I guess not.”
Typo on Chip Towers. 15 yard penalty repeat 3rd down.
Whatever!
October 9th, 2009
9:16 am
Go fly some jets Air Force Recruiter!!!
Starring Peter Graves as Capt. Over
October 9th, 2009
9:30 am
BTW: Buford is AA, not A. Supposedly his family bought a house in Loganville. Maybe Buford PAID him to LEAVE.
Sparticus
October 9th, 2009
10:51 am
He can get used to the cold up in Michigan. That’s not a big deal and the cold is overrated. MSU is probably a better fit for him than say a Miami or FSU — MSU runs the type of offense that would allow him to be a feature back and would see a lot of carries. Also, the family atmosphere that Mark Dantonio has brought to the program would be beneficial to Storm as a young man. The only problem is that MSU has a stable of talented YOUNG running backs. Larry Caper -true freshman (game winning TD in OT against Michigan last week — incredible elusive and a better version of Mark Ingram), Glenn Winston – true sophomore (a freight train and great down hill runner), Edwin “Rock” Baker (true freshman that just got a medical redshirt – who’s as good as Caper). So MSU is loaded at RBs — adding Storm Johnson would be icing on the cake. Pull the trigger Storm — East Lansing will welcome your services!
TechWilliams
October 9th, 2009
10:54 am
Sparticus: I think you just lost him by quoting all the talent at the rb position. LOL
Flo-Ri-Duh!
October 9th, 2009
11:00 am
UGA is not recruiting him for a reason but I wish him success.
Storm's Baby Momma
October 9th, 2009
11:00 am
All you can kiss my rear-end. Storm is the best RB in Georgia this year.
Pappa Johnson
October 9th, 2009
11:01 am
Come one 1-a schools, show me the money
Tider
October 9th, 2009
11:03 am
Typically, out of control dads and a posse = poor character. That is a major issue with only 28 scholarships. He should go to Troy or UAB or some mid major where he can learn appreciation.
Gerald Ball
October 9th, 2009
12:23 pm
It is amazing how hypocritical you people are. On one hand, you guys bash the athletes who are raised by single mothers and have absentee fathers and come from the inner city, calling them thugs. But here is a fellow with an active, involved father, a middle class background, lives in the suburbs and you trash him? And these Buford people trashing the family for where they choose to buy a house, move and live? Excuse me, but how many of these same Buford people moved away from Atlanta after integration (oh, excuse me, I am sorry, I am not supposed to talk about “white flight”) anymore, but we get upset when an athlete’s parents decide they want to live somewhere else for whatever reason they choose?
Man, what is it that you want from these kids? To get down on their knees, grovel, beg, jump through flaming hoops, and do whatever these millionaire coaches who themselves represent mult-million dollar corporations masquerading as universities tell them to?
And this is the really hypocritical part. Let it be a big time QUARTERBACK (so long as he is, you know, a dropback pro-style type of course) and it all changes. These guys can set all sorts of rules, write their own tickets, get their parents and high school coaches involved, and no one says a word. Seriously, where were you people when Arkansas had to hire his high school coach and recruit all of his teammates in order to get Mitch Mustain? Or when Tennessee had to meet a ton of conditions and please father Archie in order to get Peyton Manning? Or when Ole Miss hired Cutcliffe in order to please Archie Manning? (Or when Archie Manning got involved in Eli’s NFL career, working to have him sent to New York so he would get more endorsements – and also get a better organization to cover up the fact that he really isn’t that good like Peyton)? Or when Texas outbid Tennessee for Phil Simms’ services?
You folks are nowhere to be found when it is guys like that. That’s fine, you say. Roll out the red carpet! Give them whatever they want! But when it comes to kids like Johnson, you want to say “shut up and play or go back to the ghetto.” Except that Johnson and his family aren’t from the ghetto. They don’t need some football factory to provide an opportunity for their son, and they are smart and savvy enough to negotiate the process without buying the nonsense that the Ed Orgerons and Rodney Garners of the world tell them.
You also don’t even like coaches who stand up for their players like that Carver of Columbus fellow either, apparently. Never mind that he is far from the first coach to ban a school. Robert Mavre’s coach stated that no other kid would ever go to Miami after Miami chose a BETTER QB Jacory Harris over Mavre. But I guess the issue is some people getting out of their place …
Air Force Recruiter
October 9th, 2009
1:01 pm
Big difference between listing the Manning’s, is that they both have talent that matches their demands. The Johnson is more mouth than production. Good luck finding the “right” situation, thankfully you will have to go out of state and out of our mind.
JBTs
October 9th, 2009
2:11 pm
What racial BS. It was a decent point UNTIL you want to point out white QB’s oh sorry typical drop back passing QB’s
A Typical Drop-Back Passing QB
October 9th, 2009
3:11 pm
Gerald Balless, You lost me with your racial banter. This is a sports page, let’s leave out all that garbage for other blogs.
Hater
October 9th, 2009
3:13 pm
Air Force Chump…I’m sure they will be happy to with your slanderous remarks. I can see why the left Buford. Idiots like yourself!!!!
Les Miles
October 9th, 2009
3:14 pm
Sorry it didn’t work out in BR, maybe next time you’ll take up on an offer before it’s too late. Geaux Tigers!
Storm Supporter
October 9th, 2009
3:15 pm
I’m sure Storm’s recruitment has been difficult. The Buford Haters continue to spread the poison. They need to get a life. Loganville likes this kid. His Coach speaks highly of him. Where’s the attitude? There is none. Where are the grade issues? He’s graduating in December. Where is the “me” I keep hearing about? Coach Godfree says different. Leave the kid alone. But, I understand HATE is real strong. Heck, he left Buford without a serious back and an opportunity for another championship, and national ranking. But, what did Storm and his family give up? Another championship and all the accolades that go with it. The opportunity to be the number two back in the nation after Buford beat down Byrnes and Lattimore. Storm’s picture would have been in the Gwinnett Daily post every week. I’m sure his parents would have loved to have seen him in the paper because I don’t think they do it like that in Loganville. It had to difficult to take your son out from under a system of “plantation style” football. Buford must be new to intelligent black people who looked past the “hpye”. White boys first, regardless. Cody was a great back, but the only scholarship offer he got was Air Force. Buford did both those boys an injustice. Cody would have received more offers as a slot player. The kid could catch. Storm in the backfield, Cody slot. How smart were you, Buford.? They gambled, they lost. Bet, you never came across parents like the Johnson’s. They obviously felt their son was talented enough to leave and get what he needed some where else. Come on Buford, you gave that kid 8 carries a game. I bet you told him, he would be the man in his senior year. But, I understand you told that to the Carr kid, who was suppose to be the QB in his senior year, but you said, no, brought in a sophomore from where Roswell?, so the Carr kid went to Gainesville for his senior year. Shame on you, Buford. So Richt, being down the street and having recruited some many other players to Athens has believed your poison, and they’re going to let the number two back in the state leave since number one committed to Florida, ok now. It won’t matter where Storm plays. That kid can play. Any school who gets him, is getting a blue chip back. Life is full of mess. But Storm, you keep playing and know that just as many support you as hate you.
/ End of Thread
October 9th, 2009
9:20 pm
When all else fails bring the race factor into it. Keep reading more into the story than there is.
SpartanGlory
October 9th, 2009
9:59 pm
If the kid plans on playing in the NFL, he will be playing in a whole bunch of cold weather anyway so he might as well come on up to
MSU and get used to it now in an offense where he will get 20 plus carries a game.
RedKneckerson
October 10th, 2009
8:31 am
Maybe things would be different if his name was “Bob” Johnson instead of “Storm”.
Deion Sanders
October 10th, 2009
9:15 am
I love to mentor this kid.
buford
October 10th, 2009
9:21 am
ok, so i was reading this and i saw something that was sorta right, but not completely. storm didn’t leave AFTER the season last year to go to loganville. he left RIGHT before the playoffs or maybe after the first round. he tried to screw the football team over, but failed. he could have waited until AFTER we won the state championship to go, which would have probably looked better for colleges (yes, which would mean LSU also). maybe the reason LSU didn’t want him was because maybe they looked in to see what all he did and saw that he commits himself to something, but when he sees the first opportunity to ditch it, he flees right before the important games that matter.
and how is he going to bring the race factor into it? there’s affirmative action yes, but look at where LSU is located, they probably saw that they already had too many blacks that they already accepted. what? is he supposed to sew LSU because of something that was given to colleges to protect the minorities but just came back to slap him in the butt?
storm “claimed” that he didn’t get the ball enough at buford, when, if i recall right, he scored probably ten touchdowns within the first five games. in one of the early games, he scored the first touchdown as well as two others when there were only four touchdowns scored. so what more did he exactly want?
and dont whine about how cold it is. you’re storm, you’re cocky. you dont whine. loganville turned you into a baby. get used to the cold if u want a future with football.
buford #2
October 10th, 2009
9:52 am
storm’s attitude was not right at buford. he was very cocky and told everyone he WAS the game. storm is a good rb, i will say that, but as a junior last year, he was NOT THE game. something that i’ve learned with just being in the band and seeing the football players on the side line is that everyone encourages each other. everyone gives someone a pat on the back. when someone messes up and fumbles, nobody gets in their face. they tell him that its ok. he tried. just focus better next time. they give him pointers. storm had attitude problems. if storm didn’t score the touchdown, he got all pissed off and whined. when someone messed up he got pissed and treated them like they were garbage. that could also be a reason why LSU didn’t want him. not only did he not respond in time, his attitude sucks. his coaches can try and say all this mushy stuff about him, but i’ve known storm for a looong time and i can tell you that he’s not a boy with a good attitude. either the coaches are lying or he’s putting on a front.
as the first buford fan said, he left because he didn’t get the ball enough. as a junior, he’s had to realize that there were seniors who were working for scholarships also. they needed a certain amount of yardage and touchdowns in order to get those scholarships. in a football team with as many seniors as there were last year, its hard to get a junior to play every play. granted, he was first string, but again, he was only a junior. he did play a lot and he would’ve gotten to play more this year if he would have stayed. what he didn’t realize was that buford would win the state championship for the second year in a row, those seniors would graduate, and the senior class this year would have no more than 25 on the team. i can almost guarantee you that if storm would have stayed with buford, he would have gotten to play more than he does at loganville and more colleges would be looking at him just because he’s at buford. but… as i said earlier, he’s got an attitude problem.
and yes he does have a daddy who cares, like most of the high school players. but there’s only a certain extent that the colleges like for the parents to get involved. after all, it is the kid who’s going to college. not the dad.
and for “storm’s baby mama,” that just made him look real bad, no matter if u were being serious or not. no college wants a football player as a freshman with a baby. so watch what you say. you could have just costed him a couple colleges, even if you were kidding.
buford gal
October 10th, 2009
9:59 am
OR, if he were smart, he would have just stayed for the championship last year, got known in the DOME, and left; but, he’s not that smart.
buford fan
October 10th, 2009
10:18 am
Some of you guys are missing the point about why he left Buford. The main reason he left is because he, and mostly his father, thought that he wasn’t getting the ball enough. I completely understand why he wasn’t getting the ball as much as he thought he should and that’s because there was a senior ahead of him. Coaches tend to play seniors over juniors because its their senior season and their time to shine. I know people who have sat out most of their junior year so that they could start their senior year. You have to pay your dues to seniority, that’s how it works sometimes. It shows a real lack of commitment to your team when you decide to leave for no other reason than to play as much as you think you should play. Its almost a NFL mentality, where players who think they should be payed more take their services elsewhere and don’t care what team they are playing for as long as they’re getting paid.
But on a different note Johnson and Getz are two different types of running back. Getz is quick and light and Johnson was more of a power RB. So Buford adapted their offense to emphasize Getz’s speed and they used Johnson when they needed some tough yards or when Getz needed a break.
So yeah, whatever school that Johnson goes to may need to be aware that if his daddy doesn’t think he’s playing enough he might change schools on them.
BLAH BLAH freakin BLAH!
October 10th, 2009
11:10 am
Buford cleaned his locker for him. Loganville’s back LEFT Loganville for same reasons as Storm leaving Buford. DADDY said was not fair and his son should have carried more. Whatever. He was alread gone and Loganville needed a back and no other Gwinnett school wanted Storm. So he went to Loganville. Mykel training with Storms daddy and found out he had to earn his position in Dekalb and ran back to Loganville in deal to be Storms slot. No pushing Mykel out of position. Daddies. Maybe they should leave the football to the kids.
Buford1
October 10th, 2009
11:12 am
There’s a reason that Storm left Buford, and there’s a reason why Buford people don’t really care that he left. Not going to get into an argument about this, but needless to say, a famous quote once said “This ain’t daddy ball any more”.
I don’t intend any offense towards Storm or his family, but facts are facts, there’s a huge attitude and reality check needed. This has nothing to do with race, who the best player is, or anything like that, just plain facts.
All this trash talking towards Buford is P.A.T.H.E.T.I.C. You don’t know anything about our community, yet all these Loganville fans act like they live here. You keep bringing race into this when one of the best players to ever come out of GA *Darius Walker*, not only graduated from Buford but was BLACK. How in the WORLD is Buford a racist school? Take off those Storm supporting glasses and actually read into things.
Saying Storm is a better back than Cody is a JOKE. The ONLY reason Cody only got offered by small schools is because of his size, give him a few inches, and he would have been 5X better than Storm instead of 2X. While it is 2 different styles of play, I don’t see Storm winning the offensive or special teams player of the year.
Wherever Storm ends up, I wish him the best of luck.
Seriously?
October 10th, 2009
11:48 am
Maybe he did or does have an attitude problem. Maybe his dad is very controlling. I don’t know Storm or his dad nor do I know anything about Buford. But really? This entire blog is set up for most of you who I assume are adults to bash this kid…that’s right he is still a KID! Really? We all make mistakes and that includes Buford or any other school in the nation. Why don’t we take the high road on this one and wish the kid and his family the best, no matter what happened at Buford? Just a thought.
Good KID
October 10th, 2009
12:04 pm
I think you all are unfair to this kid he was a good team mate all he wanted like any one is to be treated fairly and he was not and you all know that when he was there you all said how good he was now he is nothing but i say this, he will be somebody he is doing well at his new school and as. you know god is good he will take care of storm and you who continue to hate on him i feel sorry for you. LIFE WILL TELL THE TALE, just keep on living.
RandyRhino
October 10th, 2009
12:15 pm
To an extent, it is “daddy ball” when daddy (or mommy) is co-erced into moving their boy into a certain school district. Whoever is the latest & greatest is where daddy is gonna want to show-case his boy. Not so long ago, it was Parkview, then Brookwood, then P’Tree Ridge, GAC…catch my drift? Heck Calhoun’s QB’s daddy “donated” the new artificial turf for their field, so don’t be so naive as to think these kid’s parents don’t play into the “recruiting” process for said HS. Buford is “late,great” now, but the fickle finger of fate will point these boys toward another hot program in the future and the bufords and calhouns will go the way of P’view,B’wood,etc…Heck! GAC is 0-5 this year…catch my drift?
Thetruth
October 10th, 2009
5:13 pm
Storm Johnson left Buford because the team is called the Buford Wolves and not the Storm Johnson Wolves. The Buford football team is built on the feeling of being a family, there to protect and lookout for each other. When your Buford teammates clean out your locker and “evict” you from the school, that speaks volumes. These boys are not the “racists” that some of you try to paint them (the team is diverse in ethnicity). They are good kids who truly love each other and will be there through thick and thin, but they don’t need a selfish,whiny bad apple, and his family, ruining the bunch. Good luck Storm. Here’s hoping your attitude has changed from last year and that you are appreciative of what people do for you. Just know that they will do a lot more if you are humble and realize it isn’t all about you.
Storm's Baby Momma
October 10th, 2009
7:36 pm
Looks like the white hooded Buford supporters have shown up. Just leave Storm alone, he is doing fine with Buford – Thank you! Maybe your team wouldn’t have lost a game his year if you kept Storm happy last year.
Buford1
October 10th, 2009
11:49 pm
Heck, Loganville has lost more games than Buford has. Storm’s Baby Momma, take off your racist colored sunglasses. Nobody here is racist towards Storm or blacks in general in any way, if anybody here is proving their position in that issue, it’s definitely you. We don’t need to keep a running back “happy”. He had his carries last year, he split time 50/50 with Cody Getz and if you don’t believe me I’ll post the stats. Cody did a better job running the ball, that’s why he was the star and not Storm. We have a lot of talent at running back, we don’t need “cancer” killing our team.
MB
October 11th, 2009
5:14 am
Wow, all of this talk over a teenager and high school football. It seems like after each time I read the comments in the sports section I say a prayer and hope I’m not the same type of fans you all are. Yes, I know we’re in the South and I know it’s the greatest sport ever, but it’s just a game!
GA Southern Eagle
October 11th, 2009
7:48 am
We could always use a good back in Statesboro. I hope his Daddy keeps his act up and maybe all the 1-A offers will dry up.
virgilshouse
October 11th, 2009
8:53 am
There are reasons teams like uga ,ga tech, lsu,do not want him……….he simply is a pain
KDEP
October 11th, 2009
11:36 am
You can always go to troy!!!!
Newton
October 11th, 2009
12:16 pm
I feel you MB sounds like a lot people wish they could rekindle their high school days, suit up for a 8-AAAA game, and try to blow this kids knee out during warmups.
Newton
October 11th, 2009
12:21 pm
Question for Buford fans: The Carr kid who plays for Gainesville, didn’t he transfer from Buford? Does he get this same stuff for leaving? Or does he not having a father? I ask the father question because as a father, Im baffled as to how many Storm Johnson posts Ive read involving this kids father. What did father do? Enlighten me, so I don’t do it to my son, seeing as how I don’t plan to move to Buford anytime soon.
Proud Dad that doesn't overstep his boundaries
October 11th, 2009
12:50 pm
It’s great to be proud of your offspring. It’s totally another thing to take the focus off of your son and put it on you as a Dad. Nothing to do with race, position on the field, or what part of the city you live in. Dad
KDEP
October 11th, 2009
3:46 pm
can you guys leave mr.johnson alone please
Buf0rd1
October 11th, 2009
7:16 pm
Newton, yes Daunte Carr did transfer from Buford. As far as I know, Daunte didn’t really get much bad feelings for leaving. Him and his family are good friends of mine and Daunte is a great person and athlete. While the transfer was a little unexpected and I’m sure there was some bad blood between some of the players/fans and Daunte, there’s a HUGE difference in what Daunte did and the way Storm left.
And I don’t know the whole deal behind Storm’s dad, but I do know that he complained a TON about Storm not being starter for his sophomore and junior year. But then again, playing behind Demetrius Murray and Cody Getz isn’t anything to be upset about. Hid dad was so used to “daddy ball”, he basically took control of Storm’s football career. His dad crossed the line, Storm adopted his father’s attitude while he was at Buford. Not taking anything away from Storm, and I’m not trying to call out his family in any way, but they needed a reality check.