The Virginia football program added a commitment to its class of 2020 on Sunday night (March 31), when 6’3”, 300-pound center Jestus Johnson announced his college decision.
“There has been many ups and downs throughout the recruiting process,” Johnson wrote in the below tweet. “I would like to thank my family for supporting through everything. I would especially like to thank Gonzaga and Coach Trivers for all they have done for me. Most of all I would like to thank God for blessing me with my athletic ability and allowing me to play the game I love. With that being said I would like to announce that I AM 400% COMMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.”
🔷⚔️🔶COMMITTED🔷⚔️🔶 pic.twitter.com/i9EoTV6udZ
— JESTUS JOHNSON (@_JJiii_) April 1, 2019
Johnson, a native of Laurel, Maryland, attends Gonzaga College Prep in Washington, D.C. As a junior last season he helped the Eagles to a 9-3 overall record that included the school’s first WCAC postseason tournament championship title since 2002. Johnson, second-team all-WCAC pick, held the line for sophomore quarterback Caleb Williams, who passed for 2,624 yards and rushed for 394 more on his way to earning WCAC and DC Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
Cincinnati and East Carolina are among the other schools that offered Johnson, who is rated a 3-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals.com.
Johnson gives Virginia two commitments in the class of 2020. The Cavaliers’ other pledge also plays in the trenches and hails from the state of Maryland. Jahmeer Carter, a defensive tackle prospect out of Archbishop Spalding (Severn, MD), pledged to the Hoos in the summer of 2018.
Johnson will be the second Gonzaga College product to sign with Virginia in as many classes. Four-star linebacker Hunter Stewart inked with the Hoos in the class of 2019.
