AUC on Location: Five-star RB Myson Johnson-Cook talks Auburn’s future
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — Auburn, when it's at its best, has a power back with home-run hitting ability.
The list goes on and on in Tigers lore: Stephen Davis, Bo Jackson, Brent Fullwood, Rudi Johnson, Ronnie Brown, Tre Mason and Cadillac Williams. Just to name a few.
They have their next in line in Myson Johnson-Cook.
The Auburn commit, with the impressive size (6-foot-2, 235 pounds) and freaky speed (10.3 seconds in the 100-meter dash as a junior), has the goods to be the future franchise playmaker.
“I chose the Auburn Tigers because I like coach AG (Auburn head coach Alex Golesh) and (I feel he) can flip the program around,” Johnson-Cook told Auburn Undercover following his practice Monday morning. “Hugh Freeze didn't do a really good job at that so I have faith in him. Since day one when I was there you can just feel the energy and how coach AG outworks everybody. Another reason is (Auburn running backs coach) Larry Porter. He’s the OG. He’s got a lot of big running backs to the NFL and he’s got a lot of regular running backs to the NFL, too. I really like that a lot. So, if you love Auburn, Auburn loves you back. Auburn is a great place for sure.”
Golesh runs a spread-tempo offense that heavily emphasizes the run game.
“I envision myself fitting in perfectly in the offense,” Johnson-Cook said. “Sophomore year at DeSoto (in Texas) we ran tempo too, so I’m kind of familiar with that and stuff like that. I’m just ready to get there and put my head down and get to work. Start my freshman year.”
Johnson-Cook confirmed he’s set to enroll early in January. He publicly committed to the Tigers on April 25 over Miami, LSU, Ole Miss and Kentucky.
He said Florida and Miami have continued to pursue him.
“Miami, they’ve been working on me,” Johnson-Cook said. “They still text me here and there even though they have a running back commit (Ty Keys).”
Still, there are no plans for him to visit either of those programs this fall.
“I don’t plan on it,” he said.
Johnson-Cook said he will see Auburn twice in September. He plans to attend the Tigers' home game Sept. 19 against Florida and their season opener in Atlanta two weeks earlier against Baylor.
He also has taken the bull by the horns and helped recruit for the Tigers.
“I’m really close to (five-star wideout) Easton Royal,” Johnson-Cook said. “He committed to Texas but I’m trying to get him. That’s one of my top priorities right there.”
Johnson-Cook likes what is already in the boat for the Tigers, one of the top recruiting classes in the SEC and the nation.
“We’ve been building this class pretty good,” he said. “We have (four) o-line commits. We (are) going to keep working. We still have a long time until decision day. We are going to see who else I flip. Great class, great class. I can definitely tell from being around (the commits) and being in the group chat they love Auburn. They are ready to work. They are ready to be the foundation to flip the program around and don't let it go back to where it’s at, so I love it.”
East St. Louis opens its season with one of America's toughest schedules. The Flyers kick off Aug. 22 against Mount Carmel, another Illinois powerhouse.
Six days later, they will be in South Florida to face one of the nation's top prep programs, Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage.
A week later, on Sept. 4, they host Gainesville, Ga., one of the top teams in Georgia.
“It’s an amazing schedule,” Johnson-Cook said. “Mt. Carmel is a little rivalry. We go back and forth between being No. 1 and No. 2 in the state so, week 1, that’s a great game right there. American Heritage in the Broward Classic is gonna be another great game. A lot of stars out there, a lot of Power 5 players. I’m just ready to compete on the big stage down there in (Fort Lauderdale). And then Gainesville, shoot. I’m just ready to dominate.”
As a junior at East St. Louis, Johnson-Cook rushed 126 times for 1,341 yards, averaging 10.6 yards per carry with 20 touchdowns.
As a sophomore at DeSoto, Texas, he rushed for 911 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 10.4 yards per carry.
The stage is primed for a huge senior season.
“Of course win a state championship. I’ve yet to get one in my high school career,” Johnson-Cook said of his goals. “Trying to go undefeated of course. And trying to go for at least 3k (3,000 yards) this year, too.”
