Miami football gets needed depth and speed with RB Christopher Johnson
The Miami football program gained much-needed depth and speed with a commitment from four-star running back Christopher Johnson on Sunday. Johnson is the first RB committed to the 2023 Miami class after the Hurricanes lost Thad Franklin and Jaylan Knighton to the transfer portal.
Johnson is the 286th ranked player, 18th RB and 53rd in Florida out of Fort Lauderdale Dillard in the 247 Sports composite rankings. At 5’11, 178 pounds, Johnson will have to fill out but adds blazing speed having run a 10.45 100 meters. The Miami football program beat out multiple Power Five programs for Johnson.
Mississippi was the primary challenger for Miami recruiting Johnson. Miami could use Johnson similar to rising junior wide receiver Brashard Smith who was utilized on special teams and also received carries. The commitment from Johnson moves Miami to the seventh-rated 2023 class passing Oklahoma from eighth.
Johnson did not take his official visit to Miami until Thursday per On3.Com. Clemson and Mississippi received official visits from Johnson last month and he visited Utah in September. Johnson also took an unofficial visit to North Carolina State in June. Miami is not likely to be finished adding RBs for 2023.
Home 🧡! @CanesFootball @CoachDondo @KevinSmithRB @Coach_Gattis @coach_cristobal @CoachPop_Cooney pic.twitter.com/Tgc1YqKH9p
— 6eraaa (@christopherj6_) December 11, 2022
Miami is still recruiting 6’1, 225-pound Ohio State de-commit Mark Fletcher. The American Heritage star is trending to Florida per consensus projections. Expect Miami to add a transfer RB. Returning starter Henry Parrish, Don Chaney Jr. and Tre’Vonte Citizen are the only returning RBs on the Miami roster for 2023.
Chaney did not return from a training camp injury until the final game of the season and Citizen missed the entire 2022 year after tearing his ACL in August. Johnson was originally scheduled to commit on December 21, the first day of the Early National Signing Period, but moved his commitment up to Sunday.
Next. Miami secondary dwindling with Tyrique Stevenson entering NFL Draft. dark
Miami now has a commitment from every position for 2023 except maybe safety. Four-star 2023 Miami commit Antione Jackson is listed as a cornerback by some recruiting sites and a safety by others. The projections are that Jackson is more than likely to play CB for Miami. Miami is pushing to have a top-five 2023 class.