Stephon Johnson Commits to Oklahoma State to Cap Off 2022 Class
As part of National Signing Day 2022, Oklahoma State had to wait just a little into the morning to hear the decision of Stephon Johnson Jr. and that wait was well worth it.
Johnson Jr. committed to Oklahoma State over SMU, Arkansas, Oregon and others. He is a former Oregon commit.
Johnson had a morning ceremony at DeSoto High School and told the Dallas Morning News this about his decision to sign with Oklahoma State.
“It’s really Wide Receiver U in my opinion,” Johnson said to the DMN. “They’ve put out some great wide receivers — Dez Bryant, Tay Martin, Justin Blackmon — the list goes on and on. I just feel like I can be a great fit for that program.”
The Pokes offered Johnson back in May 2021, when he was already committed so there was never much movement there. However, when he decommitted a few weeks ago, Oklahoma State was back in the mix, which led to his recent official visit.
On that visit, Johnson and his family saw everything they needed to and are now signing today.
This commitment also marks the last member of the 2022 recruiting class and he certainly makes for a ‘bang’ of an ending.
Johnson, who is 6’2 and 180 pounds, comes from Desoto High School in Dallas, Texas, carrying on the pipeline that Oklahoma State has built from the powerhouse school. The Cowboys have landed a number of Desoto stars over the years and this commitment will help them to pursue some from the school for the future.
He received high praise from Eagles head coach Claude Mathis, who has seen his share of really talented players at DeSoto.
“When he first got here on campus and everything, I knew he was a big time athlete,” Mathis said to The Dallas Morning News. “I didn’t know what kind of star he was, and things like that. I was just impressed with his ball skills. We developed some things. I’m so glad, with him coming over here, because we were able to get him ready to go to the next level.”
For some quick context on Johnson’s game, here is Robert Allen’s analysis:
“Johnson certainly provides a jolt of electricity when the ball is in his hands. His athletic ability shows up after the catch as he has speed and exceptional change of direction. He is a big play threat who can impact the short, intermediate, and deep passing game to equal degrees. Speed and quickness are great attributes and Johnson demonstrates an understanding of how to effectively use these God-given abilities. He’s a clean route-runner for a high school prospect who can effectively separate from defenders at the top of his route, making him the home run threat that he is. His other primary attribute is his ball-skills. This shows up in his ability to make difficult catches in traffic or when matched up with a defender that’s providing quality coverage. On the negative side, he needs the weight room and needs to get stronger. Add that aspect to his speed and explosion and he will be that much better.”