One of the SMU Mustangs' top recruiting targets, wide receiver Nyle Johnson (6-0, 185, 4.4) of Baton Rouge (Capitol), La., spent Thursday on an unofficial visit to the SMU campus.
Johnson said he currently holds scholarship offers form nine schools: SMU, Alabama State, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Monroe, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Tulane and Utah State.
But his leader, Johnson said, is SMU.
"I really feel at home here," Johnson said. "I'm looking for a place with a good environment, good people, good teammates and a good coaching staff. SMU has all of those.
"The facilities here are great, and I like the history of the program: it was once down, but now Coach (June) Jones has the program back. SMU has everything I'm looking for to succeed. It seems like there is an opportunity here that I've found nowhere else."
The son of former San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills (and USFL) wide receiver Trumaine Johnson, Nyle Johnson won't be completely detached from family if he ends up choosing SMU; he has an aunt who lives in Fort Worth.
Johnson — who will play at Capitol this season after transferring from UHS, where he played receiver and cornerback and returned punts and kickoffs — said he is tempted to pull the trigger on a commitment now, but is waiting to hear from some other schools with which he has been communicating, including Connecticut, Florida State, Alabama — all of whom are recruiting him to play defense.
"My heart is set on playing receiver," he said, "but I'll play whatever is best for my team.
"That's why I haven't committed yet. I want to see if the next (school) can offer more than SMU. The level of football is important. I want to go somewhere that the team has a chance to play well. My dad told me I need to make sure I pick a place that has good people and a good environment, and the place that gives me the best chance to succeed on and off the field."
Johnson said that ideally, he'd like to play in college with his best friend, fellow Capitol wide receiver Devin Stampley.
