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CB Jakailin "JK" Johnson (Transfer to LSU)

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"With coach Coombs coming back, I felt like you can't miss the opportunity to go with one of the best DB coaches in college football," said Johnson during an in-person interview this week with BuckeyeScoop.com. "With him recruiting me and the relationship he was building with me, it felt like it was home. I've got a really good relationship with my position coach (in high school) and I think that matters a lot. He's not just going to work with me on the field, he's going to work with me off the field. If I feel like I need to go to him, I can do that."
 
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JOHNSON IN LINE TO BECOME NEXT GREAT OHIO STATE CB
When Kerry Coombs came back to Columbus to take over as defensive coordinator, there were questions about whether or not he would be able to be an effective play caller and full-time d-coordinator. Those questions, following a five-game regular season, are still largely unanswered.

What was never in question was whether or not he would be able to bring star-studded talent into the Buckeyes’ recruiting classes. That’s what he was known for during his first stint at Ohio State, and in the spring he picked up right where he left off.

THE JOHNSON FILE
  • Class: 2021
  • Size: 6-foot-1/175 lbs
  • Pos: CB
  • School: De Smet (St. Louis, Missouri)
  • Composite Rating: ★★★★
  • Composite Rank: 47
Though Brian Hartline had a major hand in recruiting St. Louis four-star cornerback Jakailin Johnson, it was Coombs’ presence that provided the biggest boost in bringing the nation’s No. 3-ranked cornerback and No. 47 overall player to town.

“I think JK’s going to an elite cornerback developer,” Robert Steeples, Johnson’s head coach at De Smet (Missouri), told Eleven Warriors. “I take my own pride in developing corners so I think JK’s gonna go in there with a leg up, but he’s also not satisfied and he’s hungry. He knows he’s got room to improve. I expect him to be an elite guy for them. To be one of the top-tier corners to come out of Ohio State and be one of the top guys in the country. He’s got all the makings of it, and he’s handled it the right way so it’s all up to him.”

Steeples played for four different teams during a three-year stay in the NFL. A former cornerback himself, Steeples has plenty of experience at the position and spends extra time helping to develop his cornerbacks at the preps level. He hasn’t seen a better one than the one he’s sending to Coombs.



Over his final year in St. Louis, Johnson has shown growth in a few different areas of the game. He already had the intangibles as far as physicality, competitiveness and ball skills, but he has notably sharpened up his mechanics in playing the cornerback spot from when he was a junior to where he is now.

“His growth has just been working his technique and his instincts and just understanding the more savvy parts of the game; learning how to play that chess match on an island with a receiver,” Steeples said. “I think coming into Ohio State he’s got all the makings of an elite corner that can really progress into something special. Coach Coombs is one of the best at getting it out of his corners. He’s gonna find JK pretty quickly is a guy that fits what they’re looking for.

“JK’s a man corner and can take a guy on an island, but he’s also tough enough to be able to play zone coverage just as effectively. And his ball skills are gonna make him a real threat and having vision on the ball when he’s playing zone. I know Coach Coombs likes to mix those up so you’re gonna get a complete corner who’s gonna excel in both types of defense.”
 
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Current Situation
Jakailin Johnson will be arriving at Ohio State this summer, and when he does his former head coach Robert Steeples believes he’ll be a polished product ready to contribute as a freshman. By not enrolling early, Johnson didn’t get the leg up in spring ball that fellow cornerback Denzel Burke did. The Buckeyes could have used Johnson this spring since they were without Sevyn Banks and Cam Brown. They would have gotten a much better idea of just how ready he’ll be this season. Instead, he’ll arrive next month and hit the weight room with Mickey Marotti and use all available avenues to get ready. Don’t worry, though, this has already been going on this spring. Even the freshmen who didn’t enroll early are still doing things, even if it’s back home instead of on campus.

What to Like
Jakailin Johnson was arguably the fastest player in the state of Missouri as a true freshman, so he’s still got that going for him, which is nice. He is now a long corner who kept his 5-9 corner feet and hips. He played a lot of press coverage in high school but spent time over the last year working on his off-man technique as well because he saw Ohio State playing it on television and he wanted to be prepared for that specific eventuality. What to like? The Buckeyes aren’t just getting an athlete who can play cornerback. They’re also getting a cornerback who understands and respects the position and wants to be a master at his craft. Once the ability, desire, and understanding converge, it might be best to just get out of the way.

What’s the Ceiling This Year?
Look, not even Jeff Okudah started as a true freshman for the Buckeyes, so expecting Jakailin Johnson to do it is a bit much. Of course, the argument there is that Okudah didn’t start because he was behind two first-round corners in Denzel Ward and Damon Arnette and a fourth-rounder in Kendall Sheffield, which is a pretty good argument. If we’re talking ceilings, however, then Johnson’s ceiling is a starting role as a true freshman. It’s not likely, but OSU’s cornerback situation right now has some questions. Maybe Johnson is one of the answers — especially if the Buckeyes return to a three-man rotation at cornerback.
 
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I could easily see this kid in the CB rotation come the season. Not starting though. CB is a difficult position to adjust to from HS to college, game speed, WRs being more advanced in route running and blocking and learning more complex schemes. But Johnson could be in a similar trajectory to Jeff Okudah. I can't wait to see what Coombs can do with him
 
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“WHEN I GOT HURT, IT WAS LIKE I WENT TO ANOTHER WHOLE MODE AND MINDSET OF JUST GOING HARDER.”– JAKAILIN JOHNSON

Johnson believes he is better now in all aspects of the game than he was when he arrived at Ohio State a year ago.

“I feel like I'm faster. I feel like I'm bigger. I feel like I'm getting out of breaks quicker,” Johnson said. “Just everything from all coverages to everything.”

Going into the summer, Johnson appears likely to be Ohio State’s No. 4 cornerback this season behind Burke, Cameron Brown and Hancock. How much playing time that will lead to could depend on how frequently new Ohio State cornerbacks coach Tim Walton decides to rotate at the position and whether the cornerbacks in front of him on the depth chart stay healthy.

At a minimum, Johnson is in position to be one of Ohio State’s top backup cornerbacks with the potential to earn significant playing time in the rotation if he proves he belongs in it. And he’ll certainly be playing like he has something to prove after losing the opportunity to play last season.

“I'm just trying to get on the field and just show the world what I can actually do,” Johnson said. “It's a lot that people ain’t seen.”
 
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BROWN, JOHNSON SPLIT FIRST-TEAM REPS AT CORNERBACK
Two days after Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles expressed concerns about the Buckeyes’ cornerback depth, we got a glimpse at why on Thursday.

Ohio State had only four scholarship cornerbacks on the field during team drills Thursday as sophomore Jordan Hancock did not practice at all due to his injury while freshman Ryan Turner was a limited participant.........
When Brown wasn’t on the field, redshirt freshman JK Johnson took first-team reps opposite No. 1 cornerback Denzel Burke.

JK Johnson intercepted a pass prior to the start of 7-on-7 work as Ohio State ran “mini-field” drills, and C.J. Hicks picked off a pass by Devin Brown after the veterans left practice to allow the young players to get additional reps.

Observations from Watching A Full Ohio State Practice for the First Time in 2022 | Eleven Warriors
 
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