ESPN College Football Recruiting

Originally Published: March 23, 2009

Johnson, Toney impressive in Atlanta

Email Print Share

By Bill Conley
Scouts Inc.
Archive

Thomas JohnsonStorm Johnson is being recruited by Florida, USC and others.

It was a perfect day in Atlanta on Sunday at the Nike Combine but there was a 'storm' brewing. The physically-impressive running back, Storm Johnson (Loganville, Ga.), was one of the many outstanding athletes at James R. Hallford Stadium.

Nearly 1200 high school athletes took part and the performances got better and better as the day went on. It was a very strong overall performance by both the skilled players and the men in the trenches; one of the very best combines of the year.

Standouts

Storm Johnson, RB, Junior, Loganville, Ga.
It's easy to see why this chiseled running back already has over a dozen scholarship offers. In 2008, he rushed for 1,300 yards averaging 11.3 yards per carry. At nearly 220 pounds, Johnson is high on the recruiting charts of schools like Oklahoma, Florida, LSU, USC, and Auburn. He topped the magical 100-point mark as he tallied a SPARQ rating of 102.3. Johnson definitely possesses both speed and quickness by running a 4.45 40 time and turning in a shuttle time of 4.2 seconds.

D'Andre Toney, CB, Junior, Columbus, Ga./ Hardaway
Toney was at the top of the class in terms of overall performances. He had the very best SPARQ rating of the day and one of the very best of the year with a score of 131.94. Even though he tallied 80 tackles at free safety last season, his 40.6" vertical jump, 4.34 forty time and 4.25 shuttle prove he has the athleticism to project at the corner position. However, it's more than his athleticism that makes him special. His 42.5 foot power ball throw was one of the best of the day. Toney is an avid weight lifter and his 270 power clean, 275 bench and 425 squat are amazing for a guy that only weighs 157 pounds.

It was a good day for several Hardaway High players. Big John Herndon ended up with a 91.89 SPARQ rating. There are not many defensive tackles that tip the scales at 288, who can move like him. Herndon and Toney's teammate, 6-3 athletic quarterback Marcus Smith was also impressive with a 101.16 SPARQ rating. He had 1,600 all-purpose yards, 20 touchdowns this past fall and just received an offer from Florida this week.

B.J. Bostic, ATH, Junior, Louisville, Ga./ Jefferson County
He isn't the biggest player in terms of size, but he has put up some large numbers both on the gridiron and at the combines. Last season, he rushed and threw for over 1,300 yards along with scoring 24 touchdowns. He has already received offers from Maryland, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, UCLA and Vanderbilt. His 4.53 40 time, 40-inch vertical along with his 4.37 shuttle magnified his overall athletic abilities. Bostic also has the versatility to line up at more than one position.

Thomas JohnsonDeVaughn Buchanan is a two-sport athlete, who is on a lot of school's short lists.

DeVaughn Buchanan, LB, Junior, Rossville, Ga./ Ridgeland
This stocky linebacker displayed his quick change of direction by recording a blazing 4.00 shuttle time. His 38.7 vertical and a very respectable 4.63 forty also helped boost his SPARQ rating to 124.59. Only Toney scored higher. Last season Buchanan ended up with 142 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two sacks. He also excelled as a power forward on the Ridgeland basketball team. He is on the radar of many college football programs and is closing in on his first offer.

Juwan Thompson, RB, Junior, College Park, Ga./ Woodward Academy
It was a good day for running backs in Atlanta and Thompson was one of the top talents to perform. He lived up to all the hype by displaying a great combination of power and speed. His 41-foot power ball toss along with his sub-4.5 40 time helped him tally a SPARQ rating of 110.28. Thompson, who has offers from Ole Miss, Duke and Stanford, ran for 1,200-plus yards and 14 touchdowns this past fall. He also is an accomplished track athlete who has ran a 10.98 100 and long jumped 22 feet, 6 inches, which isn't bad for a 208 pound back.

Jordan Black, TE, Junior, Valdosta, Ga./ Lowndes
It's difficult to find a blocking tight end who can move like Black. He is a rare breed and his 98.58 SPARQ rating is high for a lineman. Black had smoke coming off his heels when he recorded a 4.11 in the shuttle and his 33-inch vertical was more than solid for a tight end. Black has already received offers from smaller Division I schools, but look for this agile and quick tight end to be recruited as an interior lineman.

Michael Taylor, LB, Junior, Atlanta, Ga./ Westlake
Taylor is a stout 200-pound middle linebacker who has a ton of physical talent. He can change directions quickly and can turn his hips with no wasted motion. His 4.33 shuttle was one of the fastest of the day. On the field, he is as tough as he is fast. In 2008, Taylor totaled 150 tackles, eight forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, five sacks along with 20 tackles for a loss. Scholarships have already been offered by Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Toledo.

Travelling Man

Harmonize Daniel, ATH, Sophomore, Avon, Ind.
It takes a determined athlete to jump on a Greyhound bus and travel to a combine hundreds of miles away, which is exactly what Daniel did when he left Avon, Indiana and headed to Atlanta. The brother of Georgia-signee defensive end Montez Robinson, Daniel tallied 80 tackles on defense as a safety/outside linebacker. He was one of the young standouts Sunday with a 36 inch vertical to go along with impressive numbers in the forty and shuttle.