2025 4-star IMG Academy RB Donovan Johnson talks Vols

2025 IMG Academy Running Back Donovan Johnson is one of the most coveted recruits in the cycle. Johnson holds over 25 Division 1 offers, including Tennessee. He was last on campus in March, and he has felt like the staff has made him a priority. Following IMG’s 35-10 victory over Lipscomb Academy in Nashville on Friday night, Johnson spoke with Volquest.

He has built an early, solid relationship with the Tennessee staff, which has only continued to grow since he was in Knoxville in March for a Junior Day.

“It is going real good,” Johnson said of the relationship with Tennessee. “I love the coaching style Coach Mack has. I spent a lot of time talking with him and coach Heupel as well. That connection is growing a lot.”

Johnson is heavily focused on the cultures of each school recruiting him, and this aspect is something that has made Tennessee stand out early.

“They have a great atmosphere there,” Johnson said about what has stood out about the relationship with Tennessee. “That is the same way they recruit me. All the boys are focused there. I love that because I am there to show them I am the best running back in my class, so I love it over there.”

Since August 1st, when Division 1 coaches could start making initial contact with 2025 recruits, Johnson has been able to learn even more about the Tennessee offense.

“They pass the ball a lot, and I like that,” Johnson said about Tennessee’s offense. “I don’t want to just be a downhill running back. I want to get out in space and show them that I can be a threat out of the backfield. I love that about the offense.”

Johnson’s visit this past March will not be his last, as he plans to get back to Knoxville at some point this fall. He has heard a lot about the game day atmosphere on Rocky Top.

“Definitely plan to get back up there,” he said. “I definitely have to get back up there for a game-day atmosphere. They have told me a lot about it. I want to watch them run through the T. I have heard a lot of good things about Tennessee from them and from Jonathan Echols. He has been telling me how good it is up there, so we are definitely going to see.”

Johnson wants to be committed somewhere by this time next year. As he works toward that decision, he knows what he will focus on.

“Really just having a good feel of the coaching staff and how they can develop you,” Johnson said of this. “I don’t want to just go there for football, so schooling is very important to me. I want to find the major I want. Family atmosphere is a big role in my decision. I am not a person that really gets homesick, so being close to home isn’t something that matters to me. I never grew up having a dream school, so that makes any school possible at this point. It is really about having that connection with the coaching staff and being able to get that push.”

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