H.S. football: Springfield LB Johnson transfers to Dunbar

Springfield High School’s football team suffered a blow this week, while Dunbar’s received a jolt. Sophomore linebacker and University of Michigan commit Antwuan Johnson is now a Wolverine in high school, too.

Johnson posted on his Facebook and Twitter feeds Monday that he was finishing the school year at Dunbar and would be “rocking the blue and white for the next two years of my high school career.” Johnson, who committed to Michigan in late March, has played the last two seasons at Springfield.

Johnson cited the fact that his dad got a new job and he had to “move back home” as the reason for his transfer.

Michigan’s first 2018 commit, Johnson is considered the No. 3 inside linebacker prospect nationally in his class by 247sports.com and the No. 8 overall prospect in Ohio.

He will team with fellow sophomore Joseph Scates (6-3, 176) to give Dunbar some game-changing talent. Scates, a wide receiver, has offers from Cincinnati, Toledo and Eastern Kentucky. He scored nine TDs last season.

Johnson’s departure won’t leave Springfield’s cupboard bare.

Junior athlete Danny Davis (6-3, 178) holds seven offers (Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, West Virginia, Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky) and is the 31st-ranked receiver prospect nationally in the 247sports composite rankings.

Sophomore defensive lineman Leonard Taylor (6-6, 258) has committed to Michigan. Taylor is considered the No. 3 DT 2018 prospect in the country and the third overall Ohio prospect by 247sports.

Last week freshman defensive back Moses Douglass (5-11, 167) became the first 2019 player in the country to earn an offer from Iowa. Douglass, the son of Springfield head coach Maurice Douglass, also has offers from Syracuse, Kentucky, Iowa State, Cincinnati, Ohio, Bowling Green and Toledo.

• Piqua junior running back Darien Tipps-Clemons (6-0, 210) has committed to Michigan State. He is projected to play outside linebacker in college and is ranked the 35th overall 2017 prospect in Ohio according to the 247sports composite rankings. The Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division Offensive Player of the Year last season (1,565 yards rushing and 24 TDs), Tipps-Clemons had 53 tackles on defense. He also holds offers from Rutgers and numerous MAC schools.

• Centerville junior athlete Colin DeBord (6-1, 185) had a huge Thursday, receiving his first three offers (Ohio, Bowling Green and Ball State) within hours of each other. DeBord, who could play quarterback as a senior, was second team All-GWOC Central last season after excelling at receiver and kick returner. He caught 25 passes for 440 yards and seven TDs and returned 22 kickoffs for 451 yards. DeBord ended with 930 all-purpose yards.

• Trotwood-Madison sophomore running back Raveion Hargrove (5-7, 165), who ran for 3,039 yards and 39 TDs last season has picked up his first offers, from Eastern Kentucky and Notre Dame College (Ohio).

• Wayne sophomore receiver L’Christian “Blue” Smith (6-5, 220) has added an offer from Tennessee. Smith also has offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Purdue and Kentucky.

• Centerville senior punter/kicker Grant Tinnerman (6-4, 190) will walk on at Bowling Green. Tinnerman hit 8-of-10 field goals and 44 of 46 PATs last season. He also averaged 38.6 yards per punt.

• Five area juniors — Carlisle running back Ridge Reed (6-1, 200), Wayne defensive lineman Mazon Walker (5-11, 275), Stebbins athlete David Hickey (5-11, 190), Trotwood-Madison athlete Kobe Vinegar (5-10, 170) and Alter offensive lineman Nick Busher (6-3, 300) — all received their first offers from Urbana this week.

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