Clemson offer or not, Tyreek Johnson says USC commitment is firm

Lakewood High coach Brian Jackson on Tuesday night relayed that Clemson had offered his star defensive end and South Carolina commitment Tyreek Johnson. At least he thought the Tigers had offered.

Soon after the offer was reportedly made, Paul Strelow of TigerIllustrated tweeted that, according to his sources, no offer had been made by Clemson to Johnson. Informed of Strelow’s tweet, Jackson responded that he might have misunderstood the nature of Clemson recruiter Robbie Caldwell’s text message to him.

In the text, Caldwell tells Jackson the Clemson coaches would like to meet Johnson and, “he is an offer on ability for sure.” It’s that part that led Jackson to believe Clemson was making an offer. In an earlier conversation with Caldwell, the Clemson coach made his interest clear.

“I think Clemson was a little surprised at the early commit and talking to Robbie he told me they really like him and he has great ability and quickness,” Jackson said. “Tyreek is really a sleeper. What he did on field last year was awesome. Plus, he’s already qualified academically and that is a huge plus. He has really bought into what we’re doing at Lakewood and that’s paying off for him.”

All of this seems to be a moot point to Johnson, who said an offer from Clemson now, or later, won’t affect the USC commitment that he made public Saturday.

“Really going to stay faithful to my team,” said Johnson, who plans to attend USC’s spring game Saturday. “Gamecocks all day.”

As to whether or not he might at least visit Clemson, Johnson replied, “Don’t know yet. It won’t hurt just to check it out, though.”

Brad Johnson to visit

Defensive end Brad Johnson of Pendleton will visit USC Wednesday according to coach Paul Sutherland. The coach is driving Johnson in and he expects to arrive at 1:30 p.m.

The Gamecocks lead for Johnson and Sutherland said he’s not far from making a decision.

“He is close but will not commit until he is 100 percent,” Sutherland said.

USC among defender’s favorites

USC defensive line coach Lance Thompson recruited defensive end M.J. Webb of Madison, Ga., with a lot of effort when he was at Auburn and he’s picked right back up on Webb since coming to USC.

And that work Webb (6-3 270) the Gamecocks in his top group along with Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss and Kentucky.

“I talk to Coach Thompson every and also Coach Muschamp every now and then,” Webb said. “Coach Thompson says I can fit into the defense very well and I have a work ethic and leave it all on the field. He likes how I go right after the football.”

Webb visited Kentucky last weekend and that was his first trip of the spring. He said he probably will be at USC this Saturday for the spring game. He visited USC in January for a junior day.

“I liked it,” he said. “The facilities have really improved and they are building on to it.”

Webb said he doesn’t have a favorite and isn’t close on a decision. That, he said, likely won’t come until signing day. Last season Webb had 77 tackles and 7 sacks.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 8:27 AM with the headline "Clemson offer or not, Tyreek Johnson says USC commitment is firm."