Texas WR Kelshaun Johnson Sets June USC Official Visit

USC hosted an impressive group of recruits on campus on January 27 for a junior day event. That’s when USC had their first shot at hosting (Tex.) Hitchock four-star wide receiver Kelshaun Johnson. That was Johnson’s first visit to USC since the Trojans offered him a scholarship nearly three months ago on December 7.

Johnson’s developed a strong relationship with USC head coach Lincoln Riley and wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons. The two have connected and according to Johnson, Simmons highlighted that “he likes my speed and how I get in and out of cuts, and how I can blow over the top of the defender.”

Now Johnson’s made plans to visit USC a second time on June 21. He’d told us a few weeks ago he would take the USC official, but didn’t have a date set. Now he does and he’ll be joined by at least one fellow Texan that weekend. Our guess is there will be more Texans joining him on June 21.

Right now McKinney (TX) LB Riley Pettijohn and Hoover (AL) Edge Jared Smith are scheduled for June 21.

USC among Johnson’s Top 10

The first USC visit will lead to at least one more visit for Johnson. On February 23 he narrowed his top schools down to 10. 

Texas, USC, Texas Tech, Penn State, Texas A&M, Arkansas, TCU, Florida, Kansas and Tennessee made the cut for Johnson, the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 24-ranked wide receiver in the 2025 recruiting class out of Houston (Texas) Hitchcock High School.

After making two big stops in-state to check out the Longhorns and the Aggies last month, Johnson has one visit already squared away for the spring. He’ll be scheduling several more visits in the upcoming weeks.

The four-star WR is scheduled to return to Texas on April 6 for the Longhorns’ spring practice, he tells On3. In addition to getting back to The Forty Acres, Johnson is also expected to return to Texas A&M and head out West to see USC for spring practices.

Last week Johnson told WeAreSC why USC made his Top 10.

“They (USC) made my top 10 because I feel like they can get me to the league and develop me to the best I can be,” said Johnson. “And yes, I will be taking a USC Official Visit. I just have to find a date that works out for me.”

Johnson made January visits in-state to both Texas and Texas A&M. The Houston-area four-star WR was on hand for the Longhorns’ star-studded junior day on Jan. 20. Steve Sarkisian also visited Hitchcock High School last month to check on the vertical playmaker. Johnson also met in person with Mike Elko and co. on Jan. 27 for the first time during a junior day visit

So far, in his recruitment, Johnson has visited four programs for a total of five visits. Texas A&M, Texas, SMU, and Penn State have all received visits thus far. Johnson’s visited Texas A&M twice.

Johnson the athlete

Johnson plays multiple sports and is a member of the 3A defending champs Hitchcock basketball team, and runs track.

He posted a personal best of 10.49 (downwind) in the 100 meters as a sophomore at the 3A-Region III meet in April 29, 2023. Also recorded a long jump of nearly 22-feet at the same meet. He went to Austin May 11 for the UIL state track and field championships and finished second in the 3A 100 meters with a time of 10.74, with a bad start.

USC and Texas

This past recruiting cycle USC signed four top players from Texas. CB Braylon Conley is from the Houston area, OL Makai Saina is from the Dallas area, RB Bryan Jackson is from the Dallas area and DT Carlon Jones is from Bay City, about 90 minutes southwest of Houston. 

Now the Trojans find themselves among the top schools for a fairly large number of 2025 prospects like Choice. Although Choice has yet to visit USC in his recruitment, he’s extremely familiar with the Trojans.