Why Za'Kari Johnson is a critical recruiting win for FSU football

Za'Kari Johnson did everything he could for Cypress Bay.

The 6-foot-1 athlete started last season at quarterback for the Lightning out of necessity as a sophomore, much like former 5-star Calvin Russell did at Miami Northwestern. Johnson averaged over 10 yards per carry on 73 attempts with nine touchdowns, passed for 551 yards and seven more scores, and had 10 tackles, four pass break-ups and an interception as a defensive back.

On July 10, he announced that he was transferring from Cypress Bay to join Carol City, which was already loaded with premier recruits. He made his Chiefs debut at the 305 Sports 7-on-7 tournament on July 18, where Cypress Bay was also competing.

His former teammates watched as Johnson star, breaking up passes and coming up with a key interception in the end zone. After the game, Johnson smiled brightly as each Cypress Bay player came up to congratulate him.

"Michael Jordan!" one of the Lighting players exclaimed while he embraced Johnson, as Johnson asked his former coach if he saw the interception. In an time where most teams take transfers personally and hold grudges, it was still all love with Cypress Bay.

It had been a hectic few weeks for Johnson, who transferred, reclassified to the class of 2027, and committed to Florida State football in a two-week span.

MORE FSU RECRUITING: Ta'Shawn Poole commitment provides big boost

"I had to take my time with it with family and coaches," Johnson said. "Just making the best decision for me so I can make it to the big leagues, that's all."

For Johnson, that decision saw him commit to FSU. He named the Seminoles among offers from the likes of Oregon, Georgia, Alabama, Texas and Notre Dame. Blue blood programs are enamored with his length and athleticism, and he stands out both physically and technically in a secondary that includes 5-star Miami commit Nick Lennear, 4-star Nebraska commit Jaiden Hill and UConn commit Alan Blackshere.

Johnson immediately became a 4-star prospect in the 2027 class upon reclassifying, and will be in the upper echelon of the USA TODAY Florida Class of 2027 Top 100 in its next update. It's a key recruiting win for Mike Norvell & Co., who have struggled to land marquee players in their home state and have largely relied on blue-chip recruits from out-of-state this cycle.

"[Tallahassee] is like home," he said. "I love it up there. I can't wait to get back up there."

Johnson is the fourth-highest rated recruit in this 'Noles class, and the highest-ranked in-state commit, according to On3. His attention now is with Carol City, which features perhaps the best defense in the state, rivaling super-teams like IMG Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas. The offense is loaded, too, since most players like Johnson and Lennear can play both sides of the ball.

Many of Carol City's defensive starters are committed to a Division I school. The linebackers include Temorris Campbell Jr. (Georgia commit) and Debonaire Johnson (UCF). The defensive line has Trevoris Finley (West Virginia) on the edge and Danard Frazier (FAU) in the middle. Aden Johnson is a 6-5, 4-star athlete that can play edge, corner or receiver. Even still, Johnson is a marquee name expected to be foundational for the Chiefs this year.

The offensive side of the ball is stacked as well, with Lee Prince (West Virginia) and Arwin Jackson (Appalachian State) at running back, and a receiver core that will feature Lennear, both Aden and Za'kari Johnson, and 6-4 Josh Sylvain (Tulane). All this with quarterback Malik Leonard growing into his own after starting as a freshman at powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna.

"I'm just chasing greatness," Johnson said about this upcoming year. "I'm trying to get better every day … I want to put my name on the mountain in South Florida. I want to be No. 1."

The Chiefs will play a gauntlet of a schedule that includes defending Class 6A champions West Boca, which defeated Carol City in four overtimes to win the 305 Sports tournament and a $10,000 cash prize. The two squads will meet again in less than a month for a Kickoff Classic. The Chiefs will also take on two Georgia powerhouses, Grayson and Lee County, plus the typical Miami rivalry tour that includes Northwestern, Central and Norland.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Why Za'Kari Johnson is a critical recruiting win for FSU football