CREVE COEUR — Jordan Johnson kept it 100.
It's state or bust for the De Smet star senior wide receiver.
“My personal goal is to win state to be honest. That's a personal and a team goal,” Johnson said. “I feel like I've met most of my other goals that I set for myself at the beginning of high school.”
Johnson, 17, has a resume to back it up.
At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Johnson is rated by Rivals and 247Sports as the top prospect in Missouri and the No. 4 wide receiver in the nation.
Johnson verbally committed to Notre Dame in April, becoming the latest local standout to pledge to the Fighting Irish. He will join Vianney's Kyren Williams and Edwardsville's Kendall Abdur-Rahman, who both signed in December.
Before he committed, Johnson received more than 25 scholarship offers, including Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Tennessee and Texas. Missouri and Illinois were in on him, too.
Johnson is No. 3 on the Post-Dispatch preseason Super 30 countdown of the top high school senior prospects.
De Smet enters this season riding a wave. The Spartans went 9-3 and played for a Class 6 district championship last season. The year before they were 1-9, hadn't won a Metro Catholic Conference game in four years and were put out in the first round of the district tournament.
Johnson's statistical production both seasons is remarkably similar. As a sophomore, he caught 26 passes for 665 yards and scored nine touchdowns. Last year, he caught 28 passes for 721 yards and another nine touchdowns. He averaged 25.2 yards per reception as a sophomore and 25.8 as a junior.
So what was at the heart of the turnaround?
“There's some things we've been building culturally that may not have shown up on the scoreboard right away but showed in how we're interacting with each other and how we got to work,” De Smet coach Robert Steeples said. “Jordan is a huge asset. We know what he brings as a receiver. The energy he brings every day to practice has been a culture shifting thing for our team.”
Johnson is down for whatever it takes to win. If he's torching his defender and feeding him is the best thing, then he's ready. If it's letting the stable of running backs go to work, then he's going to find someone to block and drive them out the play.
“I think with all the weapons we have, I don't think a lot of teams will be focused on me,” Johnson said. “We can run the ball. We have some receivers that can do the same or better than me. That's how I feel.”
If Johnson doesn't think he'll get the star defensive treatment, he's going to be in for a surprise. Every opponent is coming for him with its best guy or two — or three. He's too good. You only need to look at what CBC did in its two games against Johnson. In the regular season meeting, Johnson caught three passes for 112 yards and scored a touchdown. In the district championship, he caught one ball for 10 yards.
“He's a great route runner, great speed. It's effortless,” Steeples said. “He's gotten a lot stronger. He's extremely physical. He welcomes contact, it's a big part of his game. You can see it, he's been in the weight room.”
The big unknown this season is how Johnson will connect with his new quarterback. Nate Martens was under center Johnson's sophomore and junior seasons. He signed with Northern Iowa in the winter. Steeples said there are four quarterbacks capable of winning the job this fall.
No matter who gets the call, Johnson is ready and he believes the Spartans are, too. This team feels different. It feels special. It feels invested.
“Everyone pushing each other, that's what we didn't have when we went 1-9,” Johnson said. “The older guys are working to lead and that's a difference.”
2019-20 Post-Dispatch preseason Super 30 countdown

The Post-Dispatch Preseason Super 30 is a yearly countdown of the top 30 senior football prospects in the St. Louis area. The list includes verbal commitments until National Signing Day. Each day we will add two more to the countdown as we build to the top prospect in the area.
No. 1: Teriyon Cooper, Pattonville, ATH

VERBAL: Ohio State
OFFERS: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, LSU, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Purdue, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, TCU, USC, Western Michigan, Wisconsin
READ MORE: Ohio State recruit Cooper withdraws from Trinity, enrolls at Pattonville
No. 2: Antonio Doyle, Lutheran North, LB

OFFERS: Alabama, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Purdue, South Carolina, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Western Michigan
READ MORE: Doyle returns to Lutheran North with renewed motivation
No. 3: Jordan Johnson, De Smet, WR

VERBAL: Notre Dame
OFFERS: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin
READ MORE: De Smet's Johnson sets sights on personal, team goals
No. 4: Antonio Johnson, East St. Louis, S

VERBAL: Texas A&M
OFFERS: Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Toledo, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Western Michigan, Wisconsin
READ MORE: Johnson eager to join recent ring party at East St. Louis
No. 5: Itayvion Brown, Lutheran North, WR/LB

VERBAL: Minnesota
OFFERS: Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, LSU, Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, TCU, Texas A&M, Western Michigan
READ MORE: Lutheran North's Brown brings sensational skill set to both sides
No. 6: Reggie Love, Trinity, RB

VERBAL: Illinois
OFFERS: Arkansas, Bowling Green, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, Minnesota, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Penn State, Purdue, Syracuse, TCU, Utah, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin
No. 7: Noah Arinze, Webster Groves, DE

VERBAL: Oklahoma
OFFERS: Missouri, Illinois, Arizona State, Arkansas State, Ball State, Indiana, Indiana State, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kent State, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin
READ MORE: Webster Groves' Arinze explodes on recruiting scene
No. 8: Joe Moore, Cardinal Ritter, DE

VERBAL: Arizona State
OFFERS: Illinois, Missouri, Arizona State, Indiana, Iowa, Arizona, Ball State, Bowling Green, California, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kent State, Louisville, Memphis, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State, Southern Miss, Toledo, Western Michigan, West Virginia, Wisconsin
READ MORE: Cardinal Ritter's Moore has Mizzou bloodlines but keeps options open
No. 9: Lanell Carr, De Smet, LB

VERBAL: West Virginia
OFFERS: Arkansas, Central Florida, Colorado State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kent State, Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Louisville, Maryland, Memphis, Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Western Kentucky, Western Michigan
READ MORE: De Smet capitalizes on Carr's versatility
No. 10: Javontez Spraggins, East St. Louis, OL

VERBAL: Tennessee
OFFERS: Missouri, Illinois, Central Michigan, Indiana State, Iowa State, Kent State, Tennessee-Martin, Western Illinois, Wyoming
READ MORE: East St. Louis' Spraggins raises recruiting profile
No. 11: Kevin Tyler, Ritenour, OL

VERBAL: Illinois
OFFERS: Missouri, Illinois, Houston, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Memphis, Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Purdue, SMU, Syracuse, Western Michigan, Wyoming
READ MORE: Ritenour's Tyler turns tremendous upside into offers
No. 12: Jalen St. John, Trinity, OL

VERBAL: Missouri
OFFERS: Missouri, Illinois, Auburn, Iowa State, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State, Memphis, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Purdue, Tennessee, Washington State, Western Michigan
READ MORE: St. John bucks Trinity trend with commitment to Mizzou
No. 13: Kevon Billingsley, East St. Louis, DT

OFFERS: Missouri, Illinois, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Oklahoma, Purdue, Wisconsin
No. 14: James Frenchie, Trinity, WR

VERBAL: Illinois
OFFERS: Missouri, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, Nebraska, Purdue, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee
READ MORE: Trinity's Frenchie ready to feast in final season
No. 15: Lawaun Powell Jr., East St. Louis, WR

OFFERS: Illinois, Iowa State, Kentucky, Nebraska, Kansas, Purdue, Virginia Tech, Western Michigan
READ MORE: Healthy Powell prepared to break out at East St. Louis
No. 16: Mekhi Hagens, Cardinal Ritter, QB

OFFERS: Missouri, Appalachian State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Indiana, Kansas, Purdue, Southern Miss, Syracuse, Tennessee Martin, Toledo, Western Michigan
READ MORE: Hagens' fire burns with memory of Cardinal Ritter's state final defeat
No. 17: Traevon Williams, Hazelwood West, OL

OFFERS: Missouri, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma, Purdue
READ MORE: Hazelwood West's Williams lives up to his nickname
No. 18: Jay Maclin, Kirkwood, WR

VERBAL: Missouri
OFFERS: Arizona State, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, New Mexico, Western Michigan
READ MORE: Kirkwood's Maclin eager to make his mark at Mizzou
No. 19: Brady Feeney, CBC, OL

VERBAL: Indiana
OFFERS: Ball State, Indiana, Kent State, Memphis, Rice, Yale
No. 20: Mitchell Walters, Mehlville, OL

VERBAL: Missouri
OFFERS: Arizona, Ball State, Baylor, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, Miami (Ohio), Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Purdue, SMU, TCU
READ MORE: Walters savors final season at Mehlville
No. 21: Drake Heismeyer, Francis Howell, OL

VERBAL: Missouri
OFFERS: Central Michigan, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas State, Michigan State, Purdue, South Dakota State
READ MORE: Howell's Heismeyer left no stone unturned searching for future home
No. 22: Josh Baker, Eureka, OL

VERBAL: Arizona
OFFERS: Illinois, Arkansas State, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Kansas, Kent State, Liberty, Navy, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan, Wyoming
READ MORE: Eureka's Baker showcases his versatility
No. 23: Armon Wallace, De Smet, DT

VERBAL: Missouri State
OFFERS: Kentucky, Memphis, Syracuse, Western Michigan
READ MORE: Work ethic, character make De Smet's Wallace a rare breed
No. 24: Demetrius Washington, Riverview Gardens, WR

OFFERS: Ball State, Tennessee-Martin, Toledo
READ MORE: Washington's recruitment has Riverview Gardens buzzing
No. 25: Cam Griffin, Lutheran North, DB

VERBAL: Western Michigan
OFFERS: Ball State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Iowa State, Miami (Ohio)
READ MORE: Griffin solidifies Lutheran North's new-look defense
No. 26: Freddy Edwards, Granite City, QB

VERBAL: Miami (Ohio)
OFFERS: Iowa State
READ MORE: Granite City's Edwards eager to flash passing skills
No. 27: TJ Rush, Trinity, S

Verbal: Miami (Ohio)
OFFERS: Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Kansas, Toledo, West Virginia
READ MORE: Rush ready to help Trinity defend its championship
No. 28: Jaden Williams, Cardinal Ritter, S

OFFERS: Northern Iowa, Oregon, Southern Miss, Tennessee-Martin, Toledo, Western Illinois
READ MORE: Ritter's Williams follows in the family footsteps
No. 29: Latrez Shelton, Cardinal Ritter, CB

VERBAL: South Dakota
OFFERS: Illinois State, Kent State, San Diego State, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Miss, Tennessee-Martin, Western Michigan
READ MORE: Ritter's Shelton switches positions to make his dream come true
No. 30: Jake Seidel, Seckman, OL

VERBAL: Missouri State
OFFERS: Austin Peay, Ball State, Tennessee-Martin
READ MORE: Seidel provides big boost for Seckman offensive line