One of the top athletes in the country, a four-star athlete from Eastman (Ga.) Dodge County, has just under 48 hours of official work. Darrell “Duke” Johnson.
Alabama, florida, tennessee, UCF, florida and Texas A&M The remaining candidates are the Seminoles, who have been considered the frontrunner for his call-up for most of the past year. But new candidates have emerged in recent weeks.
“For months, Florida State has had the attention of Duke Johnson, welcoming him to campus more than any other school. Mike Norvell has made him a top priority from the beginning. And He's always had a great relationship with that staff, and while there's no real close runner-up and UCF is probably going to go into the new year, he's made a number of commitments to Florida State. Getting closer to commitment.
…But after a few visits, I think his eyes have opened a little bit, and after last week's visit, I'm hearing that Alabama is now the frontrunner to get him. Clearly, the new staff made a strong impression on him. He observed the team's workouts and met with the staff to get a better understanding of their plans for how he could fit in. ”
The Crimson Tide's status as a top school is now reflected in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) after multiple picks went in Alabama's favor over the past few days. Alabama currently has an 84.1 percent chance of securing his commitment and adding a sixth college commitment in 2025.
Johnson is the No. 35 overall prospect and No. 2 ATH in the 2025 cycle, according to the NBA. On3 industry ranking, A weighted average using all four major recruitment media companies. He's also Georgia's No. 7 player.
Johnson talks about potential candidates ahead of his pledge
With a big decision on the horizon, Johnson previewed his decision with On3's Philip Dukes as he delved into his interest in four of his final six schools.
UCF: “I like the atmosphere and the loyalty that me and all the coaches have got, me and coach (Alex) Mathis, and me and coach (Addison) Williams. We have a good connection and they call me every day. They reach out to me, they contact me, they talk to me about things other than football and basketball. If they accept my commitment, it's probably going to be based on loyalty and relationships.”
Texas A&M: “It's a cool atmosphere there. They showed me around a lot. It was a two-day weekend, so I got to see all the fields, softball games, baseball games, etc. It was fun. So I thought, if I go there, I'll have a good atmosphere with the coaches and players.”
Alabama: “When I go there, it's just a good atmosphere. The coaches want me and I want them. So when I got there, they recruited me hard and said, ' Come to my house,” he said. And they want me, they are ready. I looked at the coaches and everything else to make sure that Bama is still going to be the same with Saban gone. Practice was the same as usual, we never missed a beat, and everyone is still practicing. ”
florida: “Florida State is a really good school. I like Coach (Mike) Norvell, Coach (Patrick) Surtain, Coach (Carter) Barfield. We have a great bond with Coach Norvell. , actually my mother as well. If I go there, my commitment will be based on relationships, loyalty, hard work, and a good work ethic.”