Isaiah Johnson breaks down commitment, future with Gamecocks

South Carolina’s newest football commitment is not from the high school ranks. He’s not even from junior college.

Isaiah Johnson will be a senior when he suits up with the Gamecocks in the fall, a graduate transfer from Kansas. He committed to USC this weekend as part of an official visit.

He still has to take the graduate school entrance exam and graduate next month to complete the final academic requirements for the transfer. Johnson expects no problems to arise on those fronts.

A defensive back, he said USC co-defensive coordinator Jon Hoke told him he could play anywhere from strong safety, free safety or the spur/nickel position. He was recruited by special teams coach Joe Robinson.

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 played the last two seasons at Kansas. He started all 24 games at Kansas and was the Big 12 Newcomer of the year in 2013 when he had 73 tackles and five interceptions. Last season he totaled 75 tackles with one interception.

What did you see on your visit to go ahead and make the decision?

“I saw a lot of things. Coming off the plane when I got to meet Coach Robinson, and basically as a feel for what I was seeing right there I knew for a fact that I wanted to come home. The whole three days were a great experience. Being around Coach Hoke, Coach Robinson, Coach Ward, Coach Spurrier, they all did a great job showing me around. The host that I was with, T.J. Holloman, did an excellent job. I got to go a lot of places. I got to go downtown. I got to see the whole area, Five Points, all the other great spots players go and people like to hang out. I was able to go around campus and look at the academic services they have for me, which is great. Like I said, I knew it would be a great experience. I got to see a lot.”

You’re coming from a major college background to another major college. It’s only been brief, but how would you compare Lawrence and Columbia?

“No disrespect to Kansas and Lawrence, but Columbia is the right fit for me ... the palm trees, the weather, everything is a huge difference. Being close to home ... Columbia is only about three hours from my house. I like both places, but Columbia is a perfect fit for me.”

From your visits with Coach Hoke, what did he say about how he plans to use you?

“His new defensive system, the schemes he is running, they’re great. 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.”

In your experience at Kansas, were you more in the deep zones or did you play in the box closer to the line of scrimmage?

“We actually interchanged, kind of like what South Carolina does. I was all over the place. I was in the box and I played middle of the field a lot. I got to show my range a little bit. I was in and out the box.”

You have the opportunity to play in the SEC after playing in the Big 12. You also considered Louisville, so it was ACC and SEC. What was your thinking?

“Everyone knows the SEC is the powerhouse, the big dog. That was a huge thing for me to be able to play in the SEC and compete with those guys, that was a big thing for me.”

Do you see yourself coming in and stepping into a spot, or are you going to have to wait behind some guys and beat some people out for playing time?

“Anywhere you go, you’re not given a spot. You have opportunities to compete for that spot and I know that’s what I’m going to be doing. I talked to Coach Hoke and the other guys and they told me they’ll give me all the opportunity to come and in compete and showcase my skills. I will come in and compete with the guys they have there. I guess the best man wins and gets the job.”

What do you see as your strengths?

“I like doing it all, but I think my strengths are more of a middle, ball-hawk type of guy because I love to get interceptions. I had six interceptions in the two years I played there. I’m more of a free safety, rangy guy.”

What do you think it’s going to be like for you, coming to a place where football is king?

“That’s very exciting. I know Coach Spurrier was telling me that South Carolina has no pro football. Everybody is basically South Carolina or Clemson. That’s more exposure. That’s big.”

This story was originally published April 14, 2015 at 12:42 PM with the headline "Isaiah Johnson breaks down commitment, future with Gamecocks."