Edwardsville running back gives verbal commitment to West Virginia
One of the premier running backs in the St. Louis area and a two-time All-Southwestern Conference selection, Edwardsville senior Justin Johnson has given a verbal commitment to the University of West Virginia beginning in the 2021 season.
Ranked as a 3-star recruits and the No. 9 best player in the Illinois Class of 2021 recruits by 247 Sports, the 5-11, 190-pound Johnson announced on Sunday that he will join the Mountaineers, a member of the Big 12 Conference.
West Virginia is coached by Neal Brown who led the team to a 5-7 mark in his first season a year ago. The Mountaineers are currently 1-1 this season.
Johnson, who has rushed for 3,076 yards and 42 touchdowns in his first three years in the Edwardsville backfield, also has scholarship offers from Bowling Green, California, Central Michigan, Illinois, Illinois State, Indiana, Kent State, Louisville, Michigan State, Temple, Minnesota, Purdue, Washington State, Western Michigan and Wyoming.
Johnson becomes the fourth local player to commit to attend an NCAA Division I school. East St. Louis quarterback Tyler Macon (Missouri) and East St. Louis wide receivers Keontez Lewis (UCLA) and Dominic Lovett (Arizona State) have also committed.
Verbal commitments are non-binding.
