One of the state’s most popular juniors of the spring, Lakeville North’s Roman Johnson Roman Johnson 6'3" | 245 lbs | DL Lakeville North | 2026 State MN tore things up on both the recruiting trail and outdoor trck & field. More than likely due to the verified size, defensive lineage coming out of Lakeville North, and junior tape, Johnson was able to work out for and get in front of the eyes of a variety of college coaches, workouts of which he knocked out of the park. The 250 lber. worked out for and earned offers from Minnesota-Duluth and MSU-Mankato, and Sioux Falls and the University of Jamestown also have joined in on the race for Johnson’s talent. If you’re earning D2 offers this early, you’re high up on their recruiting boards, and generally a fringe FCS type player, and Johnson has strengthened his resume by adding an impressive 49’2″ shot put this spring. Aided by his get-off, pad level, and twitch, Johnson is poised for a monster season in 2025 with his Panther defense.

If you’re a college program needing talented front-seven defenders, which every college program is, Lakeville North High School is a must-stop no matter the recruiting cycle, as their 2025 class proves yet again. The Panthers, with their chaotic, physical, high-pressure, in-your-face-defense, have had scholarship-worthy DL and LBs since I was playing high school ball in Minnesota, and their 2026 class is well represented by current Top 75 DT/DE Roman Johnson Roman Johnson 6'3" | 245 lbs | DL Lakeville North | 2026 State MN , a big, strong, physical, 6A utility DL and OL who NSIC and MVFC schools have been all over since the season ended and Johnson’s junior tape began to circulate

Johnson, as a 3Tech who also played true NG head-up on the OC, and owns two-way versatility who can also play RG and even RT if needed, posted 18 tackles and 7 TFLs despite a ton of attention given to him on the interior, and I’d expect him to start producing in the pass rushing department as an iDL during his senior year as well. The 6’3, 250 lber. displays a quick, powerful first step and good pad level, not to mention lateral agility and twitch, which help him win a lot of reps at the snap. He can get into the backfield before plays can develop and pullers can hit their marks and get fully out of their stance, and does a good job of reading, reacting, and blowing up run plays. Johnson shows tons of pop at the initial contact point, both off the snap and in the backfield, some hand usage in the pass rushing department and can string together moves and counters with success, and a good base and balance that can withstand and absorb contact while making tackles at or behind the LOS. The strong tackler also demonstrates good pursuit speed and a motor, and is fast enough and willing enough to clean up loose ball carriers. I like his juice as a DT and he’s bound for some scholarship money at the next level, we’ll just have to see how high he can rise!