Johnson is another sophomore riser who has big shoes to fill, as the 5’11, 180 lbs quarterback will be taking the reigns from senior standout Ethan Kohl (Truman State). Johnson is ready for the opportunity, as the incredibly polished quarterback has all the intangibles to play at the next level. He displays tremendous footwork and arm talent. The type of quarterback who can quickly and calmly work through his progresses, Johnson delivered strike after strike for the Bradley-Bourbonnais JV team a season ago. Additionally, Johnson is extremely accurate when throwing on the run and possesses solid mobility. As Johnson heads into his first varsity season, his stock is on the rise.

Bradley Bourbonnais is well represented on the initial 2026 rankings introduction and sees their freshman signal-caller Ellis Johnson clocked in at #56 overall and as the #6 ranked QB at the time the rankings went live a little more than a week ago. Johnson was impressive in the non-varsity ranks for the Boilermakers and showed he could stretch the field vertically, accurately complete throws on the run, and maneuver the pocket well with efficient footwork. Johnson can generate some serious velocity after quickly setting his feet while on the move, and he’s a good athlete at the position who is confident placing the ball into tight coverage.