West Mifflin’s Johnson drove bus of recruits
Defensive end committed to Panthers in June 2019
In his mind, Nahki Johnson has been a Pitt player since June 2019. The freshman defensive end enrolled only a month ago. But Johnson verbally committed to Pitt more than 600 days ago, and the former West Mifflin standout never wavered.
“People were asking me, ‘Why did you commit so early? Why not wait until you get more offers so you can become a fivestar?’ ” Johnson said Wednesday, meeting with local media over Zoom for the first time with the Panthers. “But if I truly wanted to go somewhere, if that’s where my heart’s at, then that’s where I’m going to go. Pitt is where my heart was at the time. And I’m glad I made that decision.” So are Pat Narduzzi and the Panthers. Johnson alone was a good get for the program. Then a three-star recruit, the eventual four-star prospect held offers from Penn State, West Virginia, Michigan, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State and other Power Five conference programs after his sophomore season at Steel Valley. After transferring to West Mifflin and shining as a junior and senior, LSU — then the defending national champion — offered him as well.
Even after picking Pitt, schools kept calling. Some recruiters treated him as a “free agent.” Others, Johnson said, tried to disparage Pitt anyway they could. Programs competing for his signature brought up fan attendance, draft history,
the works. Johnson said he would “hear them, but wouldn’t entertain them.”
He was a Pitt commitment through and through. And crucially for Pitt, his peers saw that.
When Johnson signed with Pitt in December, Narduzzi said the pass-rusher “led the charge in the entire class.” Johnson was first to commit and “set the
tone,” added 2021 signee PJ O’Brien, the last player to pick Pitt in the 2021 cycle.
Naturally, Johnson’s commitment held more weight with his status as a hometown product. He joked that he deserves “half the credit” for Central Catholic bluechipper Elliot Donald and Baldwin defensive lineman Dorien Ford picking Pitt. Donald, the four-star nephew of Aaron
Donald, spurned the likes of Penn State, Ohio State and Notre Dame for the Panthers in late July. Ford committed in September, choosing Narduzzi’s program over Penn State, Michigan, Texas A&M and others.
Donald, Johnson and Ford ranked fifth, seventh and 12th, respectively, in Rivals’ 2021 Pennsylvania prospect rankings. Pitt was the only program to ink three of the state’s top 20 prospects, and Johnson deserves a tip of the cap for that.
“I was just texting them and annoying them outside of football. I grew up with both of them. I knew them before all the offers, before high school, before all of that. Knowing them and having that personal connection, I really feel like that helped them a lot to come,” Johnson said. “Where we were going is where we were going. You know what I’m saying? If we decided to go anywhere, we were probably going to all go together.”
The common thread for the trio, though — and the main reason why Johnson committed as early as he did — was Pitt defensive line coach Charlie Partridge.
Partridge is known as an ace recruiter. His long-standing relationships in Florida have brought talented prospects to Pitt from the Sunshine State since he returned to the program in 2017. But Partridge, who was named FootballScoop’s 2020 defensive line coach of the year Wednesday, is a top-tier developer, too.
In 2016, Patrick Jones was a two-star prospect, according to Rivals. Rashad Weaver was a three-star recruit and Michigan commit when he had his offer
pulled by Jim Harbaugh a week before signing day. Both earned consensus All-American status this past season, combining for 27.5 tackles for a loss. Jaylen Twyman was also a threestar prospect in 2017 before blowing up as an All-American with 10.5 sacks in 2019.
Weaver, Jones and Twyman — all 2021 NFL draft prospects — ought to be credited with their own success. But so should Partridge, and Johnson saw that.
“I feel like Coach Partridge is one of the best defensive line coaches in the country,” Johnson said. “I put all my trust in him. ... Seeing the way they developed over the years from three-star or two-stars recruits to now the NFL draft is really exciting.”
Johnson, alongside Donald, Ford and Westinghouse’s Dayon Hayes, hopes to join Partridge’s growing list of standout pass-rushers. It’ll take time, of course. After enrolling in January at 230 pounds, he’s up to 245 with a goal of 255. Johnson said he’s moving at the pace he should be, at a place that feels right.
“Half the time I really do feel like a superstar, walking around the mall, people looking at me and asking, ‘Is that Nahki Johnson?’ People come up to take pictures and stuff,” Johnson said.
“But at the same time, I’m at the beginning. I haven’t earned anything. I just got here.”