QB Johnson's 3rd visit to Arkansas precedes narrowing list

Avery Johnson

On Saturday, one of the nation’s best junior quarterbacks made a third unofficial visit in less than one year to Arkansas and is on the verge of narrowing his list.

Wichita (Kan.) Maize 4-star Avery Johnson (6-3, 180), ESPN’s third-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2023 class, and his family were on campus to visit with Razorbacks coaches and take in Arkansas basketball’s 77-68 win over West Virginia.

“I mean, since the first time I came down here, I've loved it," Johnson said. "Just to know a little bit more about Arkansas each time I come down here, I mean, it's a great place. I love the coaches, I love the atmosphere. 

“And, I mean, even the basketball atmosphere is just great to be around. I've got no problems with this place. I love everything about it."

Johnson came to Arkansas for a camp last June and then returned to campus to see the Razorbacks throttle Texas 40-21 on Sept. 11.

"Oh, it was SEC football, and then, you know, Texas trying to make their run for the SEC,” Johnson said. “And Arkansas, I don't know if they took it to heart, but it kind of felt like it. I mean, they played a wonderful game, and just the whole atmosphere from the start (was great).

“What really got me is that from the start of the game to the end of the game, there was no change in atmosphere. It was loud from the kickoff to the end of the game. 

“They rushed the field afterward. I mean, both the field goal posts were coming down, and then even the locker room after, everybody was just excited. It's just a great, great place to be around."

This visit included spending time with Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles.

"Really just getting to sit down with KB and just talk about football a little bit," Johnson said of highlights. "Some people kind of overlook that and just get to look at the facilities and take all the pictures and everything, but to just sit down with Coach Briles and talking over football and seeing how I'd fit in this program, it was a really good experience and really good for me to see."

Johnson noted this visit elevated Arkansas’ chances to land him.

"February goes dead for coaches, so I'm trying to shorten my list up a little bit and maybe see if I can start focusing on the schools I have a lot more interest in so that I can just focus on them and not focus on other schools," he said.

"I definitely think Arkansas is going to be in that in that mix."

As for a commitment, it would appear that would come before his senior season starts.

"If you asked me six months ago, I'd already be planned to be committed by now," Johnson said. "But the college football world has been flipped in so many different ways. Coaches going everywhere, players going everywhere. 

“I'm going to be committed by before next football season, but I wouldn't be able to tell you really a timetable."

He has 19 offers to this point with ones from Arkansas, Arizona State, Auburn, Florida State, Nebraska, TCU, Tennessee, Missouri and other programs. 

Johnson, who ESPN has the No. 102 overall prospect in the nation for the 2023 class, visited Arkansas, Florida State, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M, Texas and TCU last summer. 

"I don't know how many schools I'm going to get it down to,” Johnson said. “I haven't really thought about any of that yet, but just looking forward to picking up the few schools that I had the most interest."

Johnson completed 117 of 207 passes for 2,109 yards and 15 touchdowns, and had 10 rushing scores as a sophomore.

He threw for 2,550 yards, 20 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, and rushed for 1,080 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior for an 11-3 team that lost to Shawnee Mission (Kan.) Mill Valley 28-14 on Nov. 27. 

“There's always improvement,” Johnson said. “I think my main goal last year was to win a state championship and we came up just short last year in the state championship game. 

“I'm going to be working all summer and just kind of using that game as fuel to get back where we were last year as a team and kind of use that as motivation and motivate the players around me and make sure we all have the same goals, because really, my main goal is to get back there and hopefully see the team that beat us and be able to flip the script on them."