Recruiting Report: Gavin Johnson (2021)

It took the first half of the season for the Breckenridge Cowboys to find their stride in 2019. They started the season 3-3 but ran off five straight wins on their way to the Section 6A title game. It did not take junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="18223" first="Gavin" last="Johnson"]</strong> six games to get going – something he credits getting time on varsity as a sophomore. "The first half of the season, we were doing alright," Johnson said. "We had a lot of things to work on with a lot of younger guys coming in. In the second half of the season, we started to know what we were doing, working as a team, and being more effective." Starting with a twenty-point win over Hawley, the Cowboys began to roll. "Offensively, we started taking care of the ball better," Johnson explained. "On the offensive line, we were having some trouble with our blocking schemes and ended up figuring that out the second half of the season. Defensively, we started playing more aggressively; I think because we were more familiar with where we needed to be." Johnson felt like he improved considerably since 2018. "I felt I made a big step from my sophomore year. I started as a sophomore – that helped. Coming into my junior year, I knew what I was going to need to do. Offensively, I was a lot stronger and was able to overpower opponents. Defensively, I felt like I could attack the offensive line." Sophomore year, Johnson started at guard all season. After the first few games, the rest of the season at defensive tackle. As a junior, he stayed at defensive tackle but moved from guard to offensive tackle. "I can get off the ball quickly and get into people before they know what is happening," Johnson told prepredzone.com. "On defense, I am disciplined, and I am quick off the ball." Although the 6’3" 230-pound athlete feels it is a strength, Johnson feels quickness is the key. "I am focusing on my quickness. I feel like if you are quicker than your opponent, you can beat them ninety-nine percent of the time." Johnson is a three-sport athlete. "This winter, I played basketball, and I would have been throwing in track. In basketball, I am not the most skilled guy. My strength is rebounding and defense. I just like hanging around my friends, and it keeps me in shape. I throw shot in track." Johnson – who likes to deer hunt – used another talent to deal with restrictions placed on everyone because of the shutdown. "When it first happened, our coach sent us some bodyweight workouts. I did that for about two weeks. Then, I built a squat rack and a bench. I have done that until the gyms in North Dakota (recently) opened. I usually do low weight high rep types of workouts." Although he does not have any offers – <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/06/under-the-radar-21-offensive-tackles/">making our under the radar series</a></span> – colleges are starting to notice. "Recruiting is going well considering the situation," Johnson said. "Colleges are doing a good job of staying in contact. It sucks that I can’ go on visits, but staying in contact and learning about the schools helps. I have done five or six virtual visits." Johnson thinks he is being recruited as a defensive player. "Coaches like how quick I am. They like my strength and that I am pretty smart on the field." Johnson is primarily talking to Minnesota-Duluth and the University of Sioux Falls. They took some time to get on board with the Cowboys’ big man, but with a big senior season, Johnson will have more colleges interested in his services.