Auburn on Tuesday hosted an emerging defensive back target from Texas and the Tigers may very well be the team to beat.



The player: <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/cj-johnson-145351/">CJ Johnson</a>, a 3-star 2023 safety.



Auburn offered him a scholarship last week and now has moved into a solid position to land his verbal following his visit. Louisville, Nebraska and possibly Arizona State also are involved. There’s also a chance Texas A&M could get into the mix. That’s where his brother plays.



But as of Wednesday morning, we believe Auburn probably leads.



Here’s what we wrote about Johnson last week when Auburn offered …



***



<a href="https://www.on3.com/db/cj-johnson-145351/">CJ Johnson</a>, an emerging 3-star 2023 safety from Texas, now has been offered by <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/wesley-mcgriff-131420/">Wesley McGriff </a>twice. 



The first time, McGriff worked at Louisville.



But Thursday night, the recently hired Auburn secondary coach offered Johnson again — and the 6-foot-3, 193-pound recruit from Katy’s Paetow High could not have been more excited.



“It was special to me,” Johnson told Auburn Live. “He’s been recruiting me since he was at Louisville. He started recruiting me a couple months ago. He’s definitely one of my favorite coaches. Because of the relationship I have with Coach Crime (McGriff), this means a lot.”



All told, Johnson now claims 24 offers.



He plans to officially visit Missouri next weekend. And now, it’s very possible — even likely — Auburn gets an official from him, too. And possibly soon.



“They’re coming out to see me next week,” Johnson said of Auburn. “They said (an official visit) would probably have to be during the week. Coach Crime and I will be talking over the next few days to see what works.”



Johnson is not an early enrollee but potentially could sign Dec. 21. “I’m still deciding on that,” he said.



Auburn is not too late to the party, according to Johnson.



“With Coach Crime coming to Auburn and the history they have it’s certainly one of my top schools,” Johnson said. “It’s not too late.”



Johnson called his interest in Auburn a “10” out of 10.



“(McGriff) was telling me about the new head coach (<a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/hugh-freeze-134705/">Hugh Freeze)</a>,” Johnson told Auburn Live. “He was telling me how they connected in the past and he said he wouldn’t have taken the job if it wasn’t for him. He said he has a passion for coaching.”



Johnson said he recorded 63 total tackles, 8 pass breakups 7 tackles for loss and a sack during his senior season.

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