WVU football Defensive Coordinator Zac Alley may have found a future star before anyone other program could lay eyes on him.
The Mountaineers became the first offer for Class of 2027 linebacker Minikon Johnson over the weekend. The Bishop Canevin (Pa.) product made the trek down I-79 to take part in a 7-on-7 tournament hosted by West Virginia, and "felt that he performed well," according to Rivals.
His performance brought some attention from senior defensive analyst and assistant linebacker coach Andrew Warwick, who has maintained close ties to Alley throughout his career, and he proceeded to be introduced to other members of the coaching staff, including Head Coach Rich Rodriguez -- he left Morgantown after the tournament with an offer in hand, and the staff hopes to get him back in town for a summer camp this month.
Beyond blessed to receive my first offer from West virginia university! @RodSteele16 @210ths @WPIAL_Insider @wpialsportsnews @PineStar11 @MarcusAdemilola @FTRreport @WVUfootball #AGTG #ftr pic.twitter.com/JRdgouXSbi
— Minikon johnson (@Minikon_16) June 13, 2025
“I thought the visit to West Virginia was good. I liked everything about it,” he said. “I love everything about that school and how they treated me."
The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is unranked by most recruiting databases, and his only offers since WVU's have come from Kent State and Akron. But anytime Alley and Warwick are interested in a defensive talent that others aren't, it usually bodes well for that player -- the pair helped coach elite, national championship caliber defenses under Brent Venables and Dabo Swinney for Clemson in the 2010s, and know what it takes to succeed at the Power 4 level.
Johnson is listed on his MaxPreps page having played just six games as a sophomore for Bishop Canevin, but managed to finish his second prep football season with 43 tackles (5 TFLs) and two sacks. He's also listed as running a 4.6 second 40-yard dash on his Hudl page, demonstrating impressive speed for a sophomore linebacker. Johnson will certainly be worth keeping an eye on as his recruitment develops.