Evanston's Justin Johnson on fast track to Illinois

Evanston junior defensive back Justin Johnson is a relative newcomer to football, but he figured out a way to get on Power Five programs’ radar.

He ran a personal-best 10.64 seconds in the 100 meters to win a medal at the IHSA Class 3A state track and field finals last spring. Johnson is a consensus four-star prospect, according to 247Sports.com, and the state’s No. 12 player in the junior class.

His game-breaking speed — he’s also a returning medalist in the 200 — helped him land seven Big Ten offers, and he recently became Illinois’ first local commit in the 2027 recruiting cycle.

“They’ve been recruiting me since last fall,” said Johnson, who has been running track for years but didn’t start playing football till high school.

The 6-2, 180-pounder has plenty of ties to the school — both of his parents went there, and Evanston coach Miles Osei played for the Fighting Illini. But Johnson said no one pushed him toward coach Bret Bielema’s program.

“Coach Osei, he didn’t want to tell me to go anywhere,” Johnson said.

And he said his parents just wanted him to find a place that felt right. It wound up being Illinois.

The recruiting process could be enjoyable and nerve-racking, he said.

“I feel it was definitely fun to go to different schools and experience the different vibes going on,” Johnson said, “It was [also] stressful . . . trying to be my best version [of myself] talking to coaches.”

Johnson has one more season each of track and football, as he plans to graduate early and join the Illini for spring practice in 2027.

“I’m taking this year [of track] super serious,” he said. “I’m trying to win at least one gold.”

Then it will be on to his final prep football season. The Wildkits were 3-6 in Osei’s first season and aim to get back to the state playoffs for the first time since 2021. The commitment to improve is there, Johnson said.

“This offseason has been a grind, 6:30 lifts every morning,” he said.

Carmel gains QB

Reed Dangel, Warren’s starting quarterback last season, announced on social media that he’s transferring to Carmel for his senior year.

The Corsairs had an opening at the position when Nebraska commit Trae Taylor left after his junior season, transferring to Millard South in Omaha, Nebraska. Taylor is a top-five player nationally at the position who accounted for 4,204 total yards and 50 touchdowns last season.

Dangel had 624 total yards and two TD passes in 2025 in an offense tilted toward the running of Illinois wrestling recruit Aaron Stewart, who had 2,872 yards and 46 TDs.

Switching classes

Two notable seniors from last season announced on social media that they’re heading to prep school and reclassifying to the 2027 class.

Simeon wide receiver Raymond Liggins III is going to The Peddie School in New Jersey, and Nazareth quarterback Jackson Failla is going to Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. Liggins has offers from Miami, Kentucky and Missouri, among others, in the 2027 recruiting cycle.