Meet The 2025 Class: We have *another* tall, athletic safety for Penn State

Meet The 2025 Class: DB Josh Johnson

What excites you about Josh Johnson?

Patrick: I’m a bit let down that Johnson didn’t provide highlights from his senior year since his junior footage is impressive. While he plays corner in high school, he’ll definitely be a safety for the Nittany Lions. He shines in zone coverage, not just intercepting easy passes, but anticipating routes and beating receivers to their spots. He’s a smart player with exceptional awareness of his surroundings. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 185 pounds, he has great size and plays with physicality, showing strength in run support. He isn’t afraid to engage in contact. I believe he could effectively take on either the field or boundary safety role.

What concerns you about Josh Johnson?

Ryan: My main concern is that Johnson is caught between being a safety and a cornerback. The logical choice is to fill out his 6-foot-3 frame and utilize his physicality at safety, but the transition from cornerback can be challenging. This is particularly concerning given the caliber of competition he faced in high school. As Patrick pointed out, his absence of senior tape makes it hard for me to rank him higher, even though his junior highlights are exciting.

Do you think Josh Johnson will be redshirted next season? When do you think he’ll be in the mix for significant playing time?

Clay: Johnson played in a lower classification of high school football in Ohio, where he often dominated as the top athlete on the field. That will change in college. Considering there’s already a strong safety lineup at PSU, it seems likely that Johnson will be redshirted.

What do you think is the most realistic outcome for Josh Johnson: depth provider, rotational/one-year starter, multi-year starter, all-conference, or all-american?

Clay: Rotational/one-year Starter
Ryan: Rotational/one-year Starter
Patrick: Rotational/one-year starter

Lastly, where do you have Josh Johnson ranked in Penn State’s class?

Clay: No. 21
Ryan: No. 25
Patrick: No. 16
Industry Consensus via On3: No. 27