Chris Johnson, Jr.., Bowens standouts at Legends Camp, update status
Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) Dillard High School RB Chris Johnson Jr. was among a handful of running backs at the 2022 Legends Camp Saturday morning. Johnson, a three-star recruit, was surrounded by former legendary Hurricanes players at his position like Lamar Miller and Duke Johnson.
Even with more than 30 offers from power five programs across the country from schools like Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, Texas, and Oklahoma, Johnson Jr. has said in the past that Miami is atop his list and he continued to say at Legends Camp that Miami remains right up there due to the family atmosphere.
And with past legends from decades ago in attendance, there could not have been a better day for Johnson to experience what the U family is really about.
“Miami stands high in my recruitment process because I have a good connection with them,” Johnson told CaneSport. “I’m up here almost every other weekend, so I have a good bond with coach (Kevin) Smith and coach (Mario) Cristobal.”
The son of former NFL star Chris Johnson Sr., he received his offer from the Hurricanes at the 2022 spring game but has yet to take an official visit to Coral Gables and will wait to do so. Hurricanes running back coach Kevin Smith, who has played a vital role in the recruitment of Johnson, could be seen running him through drills throughout the day being hands-on and vocal.
“From day one he was a good coach ever since he started recruiting me,” Johnson said. “He kept his word. He offered me the day of the spring game and I showed out at the spring game. I came up the day after and they showed me a lot of love.”
Standing at 5-foot-11, the speedster describes his game as very versatile. He has been talking with his coaches about possibly playing outside at receiver some this season. In fact, at Legends Camp he took some time to go work with the receivers in one-on-one drills against the defensive backs and more than held his own.
“When I get the ball in my hands, I just make a move and go,” he said.
Another highly-recruited running back who was at Legends Camp Saturday was The Benjamin School's Chauncey Bowens, who has seen his recruitment pick up in the past few months. Bowens told CaneSport that he has picked up 10 more offers this summer. After being offered by the Hurricanes' previous staff, Bowens was reoffered by Cristobal shortly after the spring game this year.
A four-star prospect, Bowens holds offers from Florida, Louisville, and Auburn among others. The aspect of being close to home with the Hurricanes is something Bowens spoke highly of and said was one things that separated The U from other schools.
“Miami was the second school to offer me my freshman year with the old coaching staff, and when the new coaching staff came in, they instantly re-offered me so that love is always going to be there,” Bowens said.
The 5-foot-11 210 pound back not only stars on the gridiron but is a member of the varsity lacrosse and track team at Benjamin where he ran a 10.9 100-meter dash.
“I feel like I’m someone who could do everything,” Bowen said. “I’m still a bigger back, so I can be physical, I can be quick, I can receive, I can do everything.”
Bowens also raved about running backs coach Kevin Smith at Saturday’s camp and mentioned how he has played a part in his recruitment alongside coach Cristobal.
“Today me and coach Smith were going through it like if I was a player at this school and he was a coach,” Bowens said. “A lot of the stuff we did we worked together, and I can tell like the way he coaches that he’s a great coach. “