Less than a month ago, Javarie Johnson was going to be a Miami Hurricane.
Today, he’s a Maryland Terrapin, but not without controversy.
Johnson, who committed to Miami last June and is projected as an outside linebacker or defensive end, just graduated from Dunbar High School in Washington and is taking classes at Maryland this semester.
There have been numerous rumors surrounding Johnson’s decommitment from Miami. Many focus on a report by canesport.com, a Rivals.com affiliate, that said Johnson scored below an 820 on his SAT, the athlete requirement for admission to Miami. But Dunbar coach Craig Jefferies denied that report and said the move was made based on a decision to be closer to home, as well as personal reasons.
“When he made his final decision, he narrowed it down from 25 schools to four schools and Maryland was right in there,” Jefferies said. “He just had a change of heart and thought that he could get everything he wanted at Maryland.
“It was a personal thing. Whatever it was, it wasn’t going to make or break him. He still could’ve had an opportunity to go to Miami,” Jefferies continued. “But he doesn’t want to reveal those things because they’re personal to him.”
Ashaa Cherry, Dunbar’s defensive line coach, was described as Johnson’s “personal mentor” by Jefferies. Cherry said Johnson backed out of his previous commitment simply because he wanted to attend Maryland instead of Miami, and not for other reasons.
“He’s been bombarded with calls lately and just wanted to shut it down,” said Cherry, who added that Johnson wouldn’t be doing any more interviews.
Despite the conjecture behind Johnson’s recent “change of heart,” the Terps now have a welcome addition to their 2010 recruiting class. The four-star recruit, according to Rivals.com, also received offers from Michigan, West Virginia and Florida, among others.
Jefferies describes the 6-foot-3 defender as an explosive and smart player that could play linebacker or defensive line.
“The way he runs from curl to flat, he closes the distance between receivers and [running]backs in the flats. The way he closes on quarterbacks when he blitzes from the backside,” Jefferies said. “There’s not one big game or one particular game that made him jump out. He’s done this consistently week in and week out. … Every game he’s chasing stuff down from the back because teams rarely run at him.”
Dunbar High School is known for producing NFL talent. Former Terp tight end Vernon Davis, who will make his first Pro Bowl appearance Sunday in Miami, came from the school on New Jersey Avenue. Johnson fits the mold: In his senior season, Johnson recorded 80 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and four forced fumbles.
“He has that potential. He has that ‘it’ factor because of his size, his speed and his natural instincts and ability,” Jefferies said. “He’s a success story.”
Last season, the Terps struggled to create pressure on opposing quarterbacks at times, even with first-year defensive coordinator Don Brown’s blitz-happy scheme. The addition of Johnson could help, and he will in all likelihood receive playing time early on in his career.
Whatever the reason behind Johnson’s decommitment from Miami, he’s now a Terp — Jefferies wanted to make that clear.
“The story is that he’s going to Maryland,” Jefferies said, “and not why he didn’t go to Miami.”
engelke@umdbk.com
