I've spent the afternoon reviewing various videos in prep for my own season, so I ended up watching Camden High play the 3rd place team from my conference in last year's First Round State Playoffs, a game that Camden (the #1 Seed) lost to Collingswood (#8 and lowest Seed). I specifically watched Ron Johnson the supposed 4-star DE and I have to say that he was totally unimpressive in that game...making just 1 tackle in the first 3 drives by the opponent as his team gave up 2 long TD drives, almost 100% on run plays. And the offense did NOT run away from him at all. They simply ran wherever they wanted to, including to and away from Johnson...no double teams and no chips by the RBs, just average high school OTs blocking him 1-on-1.
In defense of the kid, it's painfully obvious that he has received little or no coaching and plays 100% freelance. He jumps around blocks, chases wildly but not with what I would call a great motor. It's apparent that he has never been taught one thing about pursuit angles. He's not real physical and is easily blocked. Maybe he is a Rivals camp superstar, but in a game situation he just isn't that effective at all. On Collingswood's first TD (a QB Sneak from the 3 yardline) he was driven backward into the endzone by an average Offensive Tackle.
My OWN personal theory about PSU's recruitment of Johnson is that they saw his video and MAYBE concluded that the other DEs they were pursuing had MUCH higher ceilings at the collegiate level. I'm just GUESSING at PSU's thinking, and again I'm not trashing the kid but just giving MY honest evaluation as a potential opposing coach.
As far as Hawkins, the WR who also signed with Michigan, he seems to have better talent at his position than Johnson but still has received no coaching whatsoever and does the best he can running routes etc. Of course with the WR depth that PSU has already I'm sure they had other kids higher on their board than Hawkins, such as Nixon.
I just thought I'd post this to put into perspective any ideas that fans would have about Michigan coming into SJersey and taking top talent away from PSU. FWIW and in all honesty, my school has a Sr DE this year who certainly is not a D-1 prospect, but who plays the position MUCH, MUCH better than Johnson. I say this as a matter of comparison of talent, and honestly I'd take our kid over Johnson any day...and that's NOT a biased opinion in any way. (Also FWIW the Camden/Collingswood game was played the same night we played Glassboro with Juwan Johnson...now THAT kid is a true, true STUD as you'll find out).
In defense of the kid, it's painfully obvious that he has received little or no coaching and plays 100% freelance. He jumps around blocks, chases wildly but not with what I would call a great motor. It's apparent that he has never been taught one thing about pursuit angles. He's not real physical and is easily blocked. Maybe he is a Rivals camp superstar, but in a game situation he just isn't that effective at all. On Collingswood's first TD (a QB Sneak from the 3 yardline) he was driven backward into the endzone by an average Offensive Tackle.
My OWN personal theory about PSU's recruitment of Johnson is that they saw his video and MAYBE concluded that the other DEs they were pursuing had MUCH higher ceilings at the collegiate level. I'm just GUESSING at PSU's thinking, and again I'm not trashing the kid but just giving MY honest evaluation as a potential opposing coach.
As far as Hawkins, the WR who also signed with Michigan, he seems to have better talent at his position than Johnson but still has received no coaching whatsoever and does the best he can running routes etc. Of course with the WR depth that PSU has already I'm sure they had other kids higher on their board than Hawkins, such as Nixon.
I just thought I'd post this to put into perspective any ideas that fans would have about Michigan coming into SJersey and taking top talent away from PSU. FWIW and in all honesty, my school has a Sr DE this year who certainly is not a D-1 prospect, but who plays the position MUCH, MUCH better than Johnson. I say this as a matter of comparison of talent, and honestly I'd take our kid over Johnson any day...and that's NOT a biased opinion in any way. (Also FWIW the Camden/Collingswood game was played the same night we played Glassboro with Juwan Johnson...now THAT kid is a true, true STUD as you'll find out).
