Signing Day 2016 - Stephen Johnson II
Stephen Johnson II, Quarterback, 6-3, 190, Jr.-JC, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Los Osos/Grambling/College of the Desert) - Dual-threat quarterback ...Rated as a three-star recruit and the No. 5 dual-threat quarterback in the junior college rankings ... Is coming off a dynamic season at the College of the Desert (Calif.) after a pair of seasons at Grambling ... Redshirted the 2013 season ... Completed 59 passes for 723 yards and six touchdowns while carrying the ball for 91 yards and another score in the first four games of his redshirt freshman season in 2014 ... Suffered a high ankle sprain midway through his redshirt freshman season at Grambling, which sidelined him for a month ... Transferred to College of the Desert in Palm Desert , Calif., and played for head coach Jack Steptoe ... In 2015, threw for 3,210 yards and rushed for an additional 429, while leading the Southern California Football Association in passing yards per game (321.0) and passing touchdowns (34) ... Added eight rushing scores for the Roadrunners in his impressive sophomore season ... His 2015 total yardage and quarterback rating was first among all quarterbacks in Southern California ...Recruited out of high school by Doug Williams at Grambling ... Steptoe says, "He's a complete guy. Not only that, he's a great character kid. Stephen has no problem with mechanics. He's got a great touch pass. He's got a great zip pass. ... He has great football intelligence. He's amazing to watch, man, but he's a very humble kid. Players elevate to him. It's real simple: when the going gets tough you want to put the ball in Stephen's hands" ... Named Mountain American Conference's Offensive Player of the Year after leading College of the Desert to a 6-4 record and share of the league title for the first time in more than a decade... Named to the Region IV All-California first team ... Totaled 1,712 passing yards and 34 touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons at Los Osos High School ... Chose Kentucky over offers from Hawaii and Arkansas State. Coach Stoops on Johnson: "We are extremely excited to add Stephen to our team. He is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who has all of the skills to compete in the SEC. He will be able to learn the system and compete with the other quarterbacks in spring practice and as a junior he brings experience and a wealth of talent to our program."
