DE, parents loved visit
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AUBURN | St. Paul's (Mobile, Ala.) junior linebacker Ryan Johnson had visited Auburn prior to last Saturday's trip for the Tigers' A-Day game. His parents had not.
Auburn had an opportunity to make a favorable and lasting first impression on the Johnsons, and did.
"My parents loved it," Johnson said. "It was a really great experience, a great day and I loved it, but my parents might have loved it more than I did. They loved the atmosphere and the campus. They loved everything about it. They loved the place."
And the coaches.
"My parents loved the coaches and what type of people the coaches are," Johnson said, "How they treat their players and their parents and also how they treat the game. My parents really liked the coaches."
Johnson, 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, did, too. He and his parents met with defensive line coach Rodney Garner, area recruiter Dameyune Craig and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.
"I really like Coach Muschamp. He's a very likeable guy and a really good coach," Johnson said. "I love the defensive schemes that he runs and the different things he does with his defenses. I also like how he treats the players and the other coaches. He's just a really good guy."
The type of guy and coach Johnson could see himself learning from in college.
"He gets fired up a lot, interacts with the players," Johnson said. "He's the kind of coach I'd like to play for. I've seen what he can do with guys like Dante Fowler and others, and that would make me work harder because I know he can get me to that level."
Johnson saw Muschamp in action during the A-Day game, which he and his parents attended after meeting with the three coaches. He watched the coach and liked Muschamp's intensity, but it was the play of two defensive guys that claimed the majority of his attention.
"(Defensive lineman) Montravius Adams was very good, and so was (linebacker) Tre Williams, who went to St. Paul's, too," Johnson said. "I thought Tre had a great game. He's a great player and a great person for me to talk to about recruiting and about Auburn."
Johnson took advantage of the opportunity during his visit.
"I talked to him a little during drills and again after the game," Johnson said. "He has told me he loves the coaches, that they are very good coaches, they know what they are doing and they can prepare me for the NFL."
Following the visit, Johnson is considering re-joining Williams. He said his parents wouldn't mind; not after the visit they had last Saturday.
"It was just a great day," Johnson said. "Auburn is definitely up there. My top schools are the four that have offered: Auburn, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Duke.
"I love the atmosphere at Auburn, the coaches and the great defenses they run. I also love the campus, facilities and school, just everything about it. It's a great school."
Johnson doesn't plan to make an early decision. He's projected to be one of the state's top defensive ends in 2017. More offers will come.
"It's still early," he said. "I'm going to take my time, but I really enjoyed my visit to Auburn and so did my parents. I'll probably be back in the fall for a game or two."
Johnson's sophomore season highlights…
