Elite 2027 ATH Myson Johnson-Cook offered by Michigan while visiting Ohio State

The Ohio State–Michigan rivalry often extends into the recruiting world as the two Big Ten powerhouses constantly battle for top prospects.

Many eyes are on the Buckeyes this weekend as they welcome myriad recruits to Columbus for their pivotal season-opener against Texas. One of the top juniors on campus is East St. Louis (Ill.) four-star athlete Myson Johnson-Cook.

While in the stands at Ohio Stadium, the 6-foot-1.5, 220-pounder announced that he’s been offered by Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford, who left Ohio State to join the staff in Ann Arbor last year:

WATCH: Michigan offered elite ATH Myson Johnson-Cook during his visit to Ohio State today💀

Johnson-Cook is the No. 2 ATH in the 2027 class.

(via @mysonn2x)

Read: https://t.co/LzkiXSmlDL pic.twitter.com/Uby4ljsl7V

— Rivals (@Rivals) August 30, 2025

Johnson-Cook is the No. 27 overall prospect and No. 2 athlete in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also now the top-ranked junior in Illinois.

Michigan now joins an offer list that already features a majority of the nation’s top programs. When speaking with Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman last month, Johnson-Cook tabbed Oregon and Georgia as the two programs “coming the hardest” early on in his recruitment. Miami, Texas, Baylor and LSU are among others in the fold as he gets his junior campaign underway.

Johnson-Cook is back in Columbus after seeing Ohio State in the spring. The Buckeyes currently have two commits in their 2027 class: Wayne (Ohio) five-star wide receiver Jamier Brown and Huntington Beach (Calif.) four-star quarterback Brady Edmunds. OSU RBs coach Carlos Locklyn is keeping consistent contact with Johnson-Cook:

“He really just wants me to get up there and see him so he can develop me and stuff like that,” Johnson-Cook told Lettermen Row in May. “But, that’s really about it. I’m going up there probably this summer. So, I’m going to see what he’s talking about when I get up there.”

Michigan now has three 2027 commits in the mix to date: Hingham (Mass.) Tabor Academy four-star QB Peter Bourque, Southlake (Texas) Carroll three-star interior offensive lineman Tristan Dare and Saline (Mich.) three-star IOL Louis Esposito.

Ahead of his junior season, Johnson-Cook transferred from Texas power DeSoto to East St. Louis, one of the top programs in the entire Midwest. In 2024, Johnson-Cook rushed for 911 yards on 88 carries (10.4 yards per carry) and scored 14 touchdowns for DeSoto. East St. Louis lost its season-opener to Bergen Catholic (N.J.) in New Jersey, falling 22-21 on Thursday evening. The Flyers remain one of the top 25 teams in the nation, according to the Rivals Composite Ranking.