Paris Johnson, Jr., Son of Pitt Coach, Commits to Ohio State

Offensive lineman Paris Johnson, Jr., one of the first players Pitt offered in the Class of 2020 and the son of Pitt assistant director of player personnel Paris Johnson, Sr., committed to Ohio State on Thursday.

Johnson, a 6-foot-7, 285-pound tackle out of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, is rated as a consensus five-star recruit, the No. 8 player in the class and top player in the state of Ohio according to 247 Sports composite.

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Though Johnson held over 40 Division I offers, including from top-tier programs such as Alabama and Notre Dame, he visited Pitt twice this year, but ultimately, the pull of the top school in his home state was the big draw.

“I’m staying home,” he wrote on Twitter late on Thursday night.

I’m Staying Home!! #GoBucks #Committed pic.twitter.com/Mk8szu6k33

— Paris Johnson Jr. (@ParisJohnsonJr) June 29, 2018

Johnson is the second 2020 offensive lineman with a Pitt offer to commit to Ohio State, joining four-star Marietta, Ga. tackle Jake Wray. Pitt does not yet have a 2020 commit.

Johnson, Sr. was hired by Pitt in February. There is a two-year period that prohibits schools from hiring coaches associated with a player, so it seems that the timing of Johnson, Sr.’s hire was specifically made so that Johnson, Jr. was still recruitable by Pitt.

Johnson, Sr. replaced Da’Vell Winters, who left Pitt to take a job at Oregon.