Keep an Eye on RJ Johnson

ELCA’s RJ Johnson is a promising junior receiver who has made a splash this fall making highlight catches and playing tough defense. The 2023 athlete had a strong output his sophomore year, but it’s clear that Johnson has emerged as one of top targets now at ELCA for QB Charlie Gilliam.

Going back to Week 2, Johnson made one of the top plays in the entire state of Georgia where he caught a pass down the middle of the field. It was no ordinary catch though. Johnson running a simple slant inside the red zone had to extend fully with one arm to make this catch. The defense was in shock, while Johnson gathered himself and ran into the endzone.

It was one of the best one-handed catches of the 2021 season and showcased why a school like Louisville offered immediately on September 1st, just a few days after making the RG Top 10.

“Recruitment has been going good. I have several schools interested in me, and thus far, I have received 4 offers – Wake Forest, Louisville, Arkansas State, and Moorehouse,” Johnson said.

He’s also received additional interest from UGA, Coastal Carolina, Eastern Michigan, and Liberty. So it’s clear that the 2023 recruit has got the attention of a lot of FBS programs, and considering his 6’3″ frame and good hands, it is warranted.

Going into this season Johnson said he had improved his speed by running track and focusing on his daily workout regimens, which is helping him become faster too. He’s laser-focused on continuing to improve his speed, and that is a focus this fall to continue to improve in that area.



Johnson has visits planned to Wake Forest and Lousiville for this fall. He said that he would like to have his college decision made by early spring, which at that point we suspect the 2023 athlete will have well over double-digit offers.

When asked about his favorite part playing on Friday nights, Johnson replied, “My favorite part about Friday night is playing with my teammates in front of the fans and just the atmosphere under the lights.”

Johnson is not just a receiver and also gets reps at the defensive back too. His frame and skill set certainly suggests that he should play on the offensive side of the ball, but he is a physical tackler out in space and shows a good ability to change directions. Johnson should continue to collect a solid film resume under his belt that will continue to bolster his recruitment.

ELCA has played one of the toughest schedules we’ve ever seen for a Class A Private team, and they are taking their lumps right now losing to Ware County (5A) and Woodward Academy (4A) – two of the best teams in their respective classifications. They square off against Crisp County (3A) this Friday and have another tough one against Blessed Trinity (5A) on the 17th before they hit a bye.

Johnson and his teammates will certainly need to rest up during that bye week, as they take on the current top dogs in Class A Private in Trinity Christian, and you can bet everyone on the team has that game circled on their calendar. It’s certainly going to be a busy month, but tons of opportunities for Johnson and his teammates to prove they are one of the best private schools in the state regardless of classification, so stay tuned to @RecruitGeorgia on Twitter to hear the latest news and action around the state.

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