Playoff performance leads to offer from Clemson's head coach

Denzel Johnson during a visit to Death Valley

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Wed Jan 14 07:01:01 GMT-04:00 2015

It always helps to play your best because you never know who might be watching - a lesson that one in-state athlete learned during the first round the state AAA playoffs.

A.C. Flora athlete Denzel Johnson Denzel Johnson
Wide Receiver
6-2, 190
Columbia, SC
View Full Profile has owned an offer from Clemson since his junior year of high school, but a highlight reel performance in the Falcons' 37-14 victory over Daniel High School - where several members of the Clemson coaching staffs' sons play - caught head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile 's attention.

Johnson (6-1, 195) had a greyshirt offer from Clemson, but when a spot opened up in Clemson's 2015 class, Swinney remembered the two-star athlete's performance and offered him a full scholarship.

"I can't exactly remember but it was after the game where we played Daniel in the playoffs because Coach Swinney was at the game," Johnson told TigerNet Monday afternoon. "After that game is when I started hearing from Clemson more."

The Clemson head coach has been Johnson's main recruiter over the last couple of months.

"Definitely, Coach Swinney. I talk to him the most," Johnson said. "He said that he was impressed with how I play both sides of the ball so well and he liked my toughness. He wanted to give me an official visit."

Johnson plays both defensive back and wide receiver and is equally successful on both sides of the ball. He caught 38 passes for 760 yards and seven touchdowns, carried the ball 41 times for 542 yards and three scores, and added over 40 tackles with three pass breakups on defense.

However, he doesn't have a preference where he plays on the next level.

"I like both sides of the ball the same," he said. It doesn't really matter as long as I'm playing." Clemson coaches want him on the defensive side of the ball.

Johnson said that he has seen what Clemson has to offer as far as a game day environment.

"I actually had an offer my junior year," he said. "I came up there a few times a couple of years ago and had a lot of fun. The fans up there are crazy and the environment is pretty amazing."

However, he wants to get a feel for the campus and coaching staff during this weekend's official visit.

"My dad and my little brother and cousin are coming with me this weekend," he said. "I just want to have a good time and I hope that I will feel comfortable at Clemson and like the campus and everything."

Johnson has offers from Georgia Southern, Towson, Liberty, Old Dominion and Georgia State and has visit scheduled to N.C. State and Georgia Southern, but he said that a commitment to Clemson this weekend isn't out of the question.

"Yes. It's definitely a possibility," he said.