Junior running back/linebacker Josh Hess are two of Richlands’ (VA) top players this season. Each prospect has been verbally offered by an FBS program with the 6-2, 209-pound Johnson boasting an in-state ACC offer.

“Devon has been offered by UVa as soon as he qualifies academically,” Blue Tornado head coach Greg Mance said. “When Coach [Scott] Wachenheim came here and saw film on him, he said, ‘That’s a Division 1 linebacker.'”

Johnson transferred into Richlands before the start of his sophomore year. He excelled in his first year, earning first-team all-district and first-team all-Southwest Virginia honors for his play at running back, where he averaged over seven yards per carry. Defensively, Johnson showed very well at inside linebacker (in Richlands’ 3-4 scheme), where he got more and more playing time as last season went on.

“He’s a special player. He’ll flat out knock your helmet off,” Mance said. “He had three or four bone-crushing hits against Cave Spring’s quarterback in [the 2009 Region IV, Division 3 championship game]. The kid can fly. He’s explosive. He can cover backs out of the backfield. He’s an aggressive football player. He’s an explosive linebacker. When he hits you, you go down. I think he’s a college linebacker, but with the way he is running the ball now, in spurts he looks like a college tailback.”

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