Gamecocks in position to make DE Ron Johnson’s top five

One of the top talents at South Carolina’s camp Saturday was defensive end Ron Johnson of Camden, N.J.

The highly recruited Johnson (6-4, 240) holds offers from USC, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona State, Missouri, Rutgers and others. USC recruiter G.A. Mangus has worked Johnson for months and has made him a high priority, and that should pay off soon when Johnson narrows his list to five.

“I plan to release my top five like July 20ish,” Johnson said, adding that the Gamecocks will make the cut. “Coach Adams saw that I had a weakness in my change of direction and we worked on that and it got better throughout the camp.”

This was Johnson’s second visit to USC this year and it gave him an even clearer view of the school and the program.

“I got a good feel from the coaches and I saw the facilities and stuff like that,” Johnson said. “I had a good time with Coach Adams and stuff like that.”

Johnson said he will visit Penn State this week and is trying to visit Michigan in July. He said he and wide receiver teammate Brad Hawkins Jr. would like to attend the same school. Hawkins is favoring USC and Michigan at this point.

Notes

▪  OL Will Putnam of Harrisburg, NC, will visit Virginia Tech on Thursday. He will contact USC as well about another visit. He is going to North Carolina on Friday.

▪  USC Monday offered offensive lieman Garett Bolles of Snow College (Utah). He is a national recruit with offers from many of the Power 5 conference teams.