Isaiah Johnson ‘highly motivated’ to make most of only season with Gamecocks
Isaiah Johnson is embracing the opportunity and challenge he has ahead of him with South Carolina.
Johnson is a graduate transfer from Kansas and will be with the Gamecocks for one season. That’s one season for the senior safety to have an impact before he attempts to fulfill his dreams of playing in the NFL.
“This is the biggest time of the life,” Johnson said. “I have to prove myself all over again to a whole new staff and a whole new conference. I’m highly motivated.”
Johnson is from Panther Creek High in Cary, N.C., and the distance from home to Columbia played a big factor in his decision to choose the Gamecocks.
He announced Friday that he received final approval from the NCAA to play his senior season. He will enroll in USC’s graduate program for retail in July.
“I’ll have an opportunity to compete, and that’s what I’m looking for,” he said. “The SEC is the most competitive conference. That’s going to be a transition right there to be able to come in and fit in.”
BY THE NUMBERS
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 210 pounds
Stats: 73 tackles and five interceptions in 2013; 75 tackles with one INT in 2014
Rating: Three-star prospect when he signed with Kansas in 2013, according to 247Sports Composite
THREE THINGS
▪ Johnson went from high school to Western Carolina in 2011 and sat out that season with a medical redshirt. He transferred to Iowa Western and had eight interceptions in helping lead the team to the national championship. He then played the past two seasons at Kansas.
▪ Johnson started all 24 of his games at Kansas and chose the Jayhawks over Texas Tech, New Mexico, Wyoming, Northern Iowa and South Alabama ... Also considered Louisville this spring before committing to the Gamecocks
▪ Was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2013
THREE QUOTES
▪ “I think my strengths are more in the coverage game and the passing game. I’m more of a ball hawk and a play-making safety. I can lay the wood sometime.”
▪ “No disrespect to Kansas and Lawrence, but Columbia is the right fit for me ... the palm trees, the weather, everything is a huge difference. Columbia is only about three hours from my house. I like both places, but Columbia is a perfect fit.”
▪ “His new defensive system, the schemes he is running, they’re great,” Johnson said of co-defensive coordinator Jon Hoke. “I think he said 4-2-5, which is a spur they add in. That’s three opportunities for me. They use a strong safety, free safety and a spur as an extra safety. He says he’ll use them anywhere, whatever he feels comfortable and whatever I feel comfortable in.”
ANALYST’S TAKE
JC Shurburtt, 247Sports: “He should be the best safety on the roster the minute he steps foot on campus. Nobody else that the Gamecocks currently have or who they will be bringing in has the type of proven ability that Johnson does. Even if he isn’t an All-SEC type of performer, he at the very least solidifies the depth at safety because of his proven talent.”