Donovan Johnson to Penn State: Nittany Lions Land 4-Star CB Prospect

The Penn State Nittany Lions added a playmaker to their future secondary on Tuesday.

Cornerback prospect Donovan Johnson announced he would join the Nittany Lions' 2017 class on Twitter:

The 5'11", 178-pound Johnson is a 4-star recruit, per Scout. He's the No. 36 cornerback in the country and No. 2 cornerback from Michigan in the class of 2017.

Allen Trieu of Scout noted Johnson chose Penn State over Virginia Tech and also held scholarship offers from programs such as Wisconsin, West Virginia, Nebraska and Tennessee.

Johnson was impressed with his interactions with Penn State head coach James Franklin following his visit, per Trieu: "Coach Franklin is a great guy, very down to earth and he wants to see his players succeed the best they can. I love his family. He's just a great guy."

While Johnson will come to Penn State as a defensive back, he also played running back and returned kicks at the high school level. Trieu said he ran for 1,100 yards and 16 touchdowns on just 74 carries and returned three kickoffs for scores for state-champion Cass Tech.

Hudl shared some of Johnson's playmaking abilities:

Johnson's speed stands out, which is one reason he was so effective as a running back and kick returner at the high school level.

Scout provided a breakdown of his game and pointed to that speed, as well as his instincts and ball skills when the pass is in the air. He makes up ground with his athleticism when covering receivers but is physical enough to stop the run and press at the line of scrimmage.

Penn State is known for its defense, and it should get even stronger with Johnson in the fold. The Nittany Lions finished an impressive 26th in the country in passing yards allowed per game this season and won the Big Ten Championship and earned a Rose Bowl bid in the process.

If they continue to land players like Johnson, they will remain competitive in the deep Big Ten East for years to come.