2019 DL Rodas Johnson signs with Wisconsin

A huge addition late in the cycle, Wisconsin was able to wrestle talented defensive lineman Rodas Johnson away from Penn State and Texas from right underneath Ohio State’s nose.

Johnson, another Columbus native to play for UW like Robert Wheelwright and Austin Traylor, will be another addition of youth, talent and depth to a defensive line unit that sorely needs all of the above heading into 2019.

Johnson looks like a five-technique or three-technique/four-technique “end’ for the Badgers, which has to be exciting for a big piece of clay for defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield to mold.

Rankings

247Sports (composite): Four stars; Grade: 0.8858; No. 436 player. No. 29 DT; No. 15 OH

247Sports: Three stars; 87 ; No. 700 player; No. 44 DT; No. 30 OH

ESPN: Four stars; Grade: 80; No. 16 OG; No. 28 Regional; No. 10 OH

Rivals: Four stars; 5.8 rating; No. 14 DT; No. 8 OH

Verbally committed on November 6, 2018

Johnson committed during a bit of a hot streak in Wisconsin’s recruiting cycle. Within a couple weeks of each other, Johnson committed along with Clay Cundiff, Maema Njiongmeta and Skyler Meyers.

According to 247Sports, Johnson held offers from Wisconsin, Penn State, Texas, Michigan, Michigan State, Florida, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Kentucky, Northwestern, Notre Dame and Oklahoma among others. This was a hotly contested recruitment for Johnson, who kept things pretty low key depsite some heavy hitters being involved.

Video highlights

Bio (courtesy of UWBadgers.com)

Four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals … three-star recruit by 247 Sports … had 32 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks as a senior … started five games at defensive tackle as a junior, recording 23 tackles and 7 TFLs … also made four starts at right guard as a junior … coach was Ryan Wiggins