Out of all the St. Thomas Aquinas returning film that I have watch, Channon Johnson Channon Johnson 6'1" | 310 lbs | DL St. Thomas Aquinas | 2026 State NJ ‘s tape is the most impressive. Perhaps it is the defensive line coach in me, but I think it is simply his outstanding play. A nose, Johnson capitalizes being so close to the ball by having a very quick get off. From there, we see him clip and swim to get in the backfield and disrupt plays before the ever get started. His quickness allows him to beat the back block of centers, technically running around them, to make many tackles in the backfield. His get off and hand usage allows him to actively shed, not split, double teams. In the process, Johnson keeps his gap-arm free to make tackles in his hole; on well-executed doubles, he is a total boulder who does not get moved at all. His knock-backability reestablishes the line of scrimmage and makes bubbles within the offensive backfield. At his best, Jennings knocks back offensive linemen into backside pullers, creating piles in the backfield and allowing play side defenders to run free. Johnson might be quicker than he is fast. On offense when at tackle, I noticed him having to push his guard out of the way on counter because they are moving too slow. I love Johnson’s game. The only area I could realistically offer feedback would be to work in pass rush clips on his tape and clips of him spilling.

Channon Johnson Channon Johnson 6'1" | 310 lbs | DL St. Thomas Aquinas | 2026 State NJ from St. Thomas Aquinas is a name that deserves more buzz. At 6’1”, 310 pounds, Johnson is a disruptive force at the 3-tech spot who causes consistent chaos in the backfield. His get-off stands out right away—quick and violent, with a punch that jolts offensive linemen on contact. He plays with real power in his hands and uses them well to shed blocks early in reps. While his pad level can get high at times, he generally maintains leverage and shows strong balance through contact.

Against the run, Johnson is a menace. He’s stout at the point of attack and eats up space, but what separates him is his ability not just to absorb blocks—he beats them. Whether he’s slipping through gaps or holding his ground on doubles, he finds ways to stay active and finish plays. As a pass rusher, he’s still developing a more refined move set, but you can see the growth on tape. He’s starting to string together moves and use counters to generate interior pressure.

Johnson is the tone-setter for his defensive front. He anchors, he disrupts, and he finishes. If he takes another step in his pass-rushing development, he could emerge as one of the more dominant interior defenders in the state this fall.