Former top 50 cornerback hits transfer portal after stints with Ohio State and LSU
Former top 50 recruit and consensus 4-star cornerback JK Johnson is back in the transfer portal. One year after leaving Ohio State for LSU, the fourth-year cornerback hopes to find greener pastures with his third team in as many years. While Johnson's defection to LSU was not overly surprising because of his relationship with Tigers […]
Former top 50 recruit and consensus 4-star cornerback JK Johnson is back in the transfer portal. One year after leaving Ohio State for LSU, the fourth-year cornerback hopes to find greener pastures with his third team in as many years.
While Johnson's defection to LSU was not overly surprising because of his relationship with Tigers cornerback coach Robert Steeples, this news is a bit different. Steeples coached Johnson at De Smet Jesuit High School in St. Louis. Johnson had opted against returning to Ohio State in 2023 despite logging the second-most snaps of all corners.
However, he struggled in those snaps, and then a leg injury kept him out of the 2023 season. Johnson played only 1013 snaps in 2024 despite his pedigree and relationships.
Ohio State has fed several transfers to LSU with varying success. Everyone knows Joe Burrow, but Sevyn Banks was another recent defection.
With Johnson now out of LSU and without a stellar track record, he'll likely need to take a step down into Group of 5-type competition. He's allowed 14 receptions on 26 targets for 315 yards and three touchdowns in 528 snaps.
Without much film to go off and concerns about his health, Johnson is looking for a redemption arc.
We're certainly hoping Johnson finds the right fit. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder has the pedigree to be an impact defender, even if it hasn't quite clicked just yet.
