Northside linebacker Caleb Johnson gaining stream in recruiting

Northside rising senior Caleb Johnson has caught the eye of many coaches at some of the biggest Division I schools. Judging by what he brings to the table, that’s not going to change anytime soon.

Johnson, a three-star outside linebacker according to 247 Sports’ Composite ranking, holds 12 offers from FBS schools. Several prominent programs are among those dozen offers, including Auburn, Louisville, Tennessee, Florida and LSU.

According to Northside head coach Morgan Ingram, it’s not hard to understand why so many top-tier teams are on Johnson’s trail.

“The obvious thing is just his pure size,” Ingram said. “I mean, 6-foot-4, 245 (pounds) and can run as well as he runs. That’s probably the thing that, as I talk to coaches, impresses them the most: his pure size and his athleticism at that size. (It’s also) how hard he works at getting better at what he does. He is a gifted athlete naturally, but he also works very hard to improve his skills.”

Ingram explained most coaches see Johnson as a pass rusher at the next level, something he is naturally adept at. Johnson has not mentioned when or if he will verbally commit to a school but did say he wants to find a school that “will help me become more than just a great football player, but a great person, too.”

While Johnson’s summer is sure to have its fair share of college visits and camps, he has plenty of work to do back at Northside. Johnson spent most of his spring concentrating on baseball, and the short 10-practice spring leaves room for more work this summer.

Ingram said there’s nothing drastic Johnson needs to improve on; it’s all about fine-tuning what he’s already able to do.

“He really hasn’t fully transitioned back to football form, but he’s really, really close,” Ingram said. “He’s been working very hard since baseball ended to get himself back into football shape. He’s been extremely busy with all the recruiting things going on. It’s been (about) getting a better understanding of his role, particularly on our defense.”

That role, Ingram explained, will be multi-faceted for Johnson. Ingram said the Patriots need Johnson to be that dominant pass rusher college coaches project while also running sideline to sideline to make plays. Ingram anticipates lining Johnson up in multiple locations in order to prevent opponents from scheming their blocking assignments around him.

Ingram praised Johnson’s leadership ability, which Ingram said isn’t something evident just by watching his film. Before too long, Ingram will likely become a leader for a prominent college football program, but for now, there’s plenty left to do at Northside.

“We’ve got guys returning defensively who are really good players, and he heads that group up,” Ingram said. “Learning all those roles and understanding those different roles is part of what we’re doing.”

This story was originally published June 12, 2017 at 9:30 AM with the headline "Northside linebacker Caleb Johnson gaining stream in recruiting."