Hooks’ Jordan Johnson Flips Commitment From Air Force To Army

Remember that article on Halloween about Jordan Johnson and how Army's decision to contest Air Force for the Hooks prospect might create banter at The Pentagon?

West Point seems to have won the sweepstakes for Johnson. The universal high school athlete decommitted from Air Force on Tuesday and pledged to the Black Knights football program Wednesday afternoon through an announcement via his personal Twitter account.

Johnson (6-0, 195) had been committed to Air Force since April 5, but he didn't have a second option until Oct. 30. It took him 25 days to make the switch.

Army is 6-5 overall ahead of its culturally significant season finale Dec. 10 against arch-rival Navy at the Baltimore Ravens' M&T Bank Stadium. President Barack Obama and a handful of other United States dignitaries will be on hand, and the contest will be the final game of the 2016 regular season across the college football landscape at large.

This might just be the year the Black Knights snap a losing streak to Navy dating all the way back to the 2002 season. Army has not had a team as successful as this team since the 2010 season.

The Black Knights need a win against Navy to achieve bowl eligibility. Despite its 6-5 record -- six is the magic number to get into contention for a bowl game -- two of its victories came against FCS opponents. Bowls only allow FBS opponents one win against smaller schools per season to count toward the win total.

If Army wins, it will reach a bowl game for the first time since that 2010 campaign.

Johnson will be required to serve the nation if he follows through on his commitment to the armed service academy. Graduates of Army, Air Force, Navy and a handful of other armed services schools get on a fast track for ascension within the military ranks.

West Point once owned the country's premiere college football program. It won straight national championships between 1944 and 1946 and produced three Heisman Trophy winners ahead of the current high-paying NFL era, which gave the best football players an incentive to avoid mandatory military service before playing professional football.

The school is still regarded as an elite destination for high-level high school students. For starters, former presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower attended West Point.

West Point was loosely in the news Tuesday as the NHL unveiled its team name for its Las Vegas expansion franchise.

Majority team owner William P. Foley II attended West Point and wanted to name his new team the Black Knights. Pushback persuaded him to land upon the name Golden Knights instead.

Still, the Golden Knights hockey team will be governed by a consortium called Black Knight Sports & Entertainment.

Johnson, like all college football prospects currently in their senior year of high school, will become eligible to sign with Army or any other team that offers him in February.

2017 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

• Tristan Allen, Atlanta, LB, 6-3, 206 — committed to Louisiana Tech; additional offer from UTEP (2)
• Judah Bell, Tyler Bishop Gorman, WR, 6-3, 180 — committed to Navy; additional offers from Bowling Green, Coastal Carolina, Houston, Kansas, Memphis, New Mexico, North Texas, SMU, ULL, ULM, UTSA, Wyoming (13)
• Noah Bush, Athens, LB, 6-1, 216 — offers from Air Force, Army (2)
• Lagaryonn Carson, Liberty-Eylau, DE, 6-4, 261 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, North Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M (9)
• Terrell Cooper, Lindale, DE, 6-3, 240 — offers from Arkansas State, Memphis, North Texas, Texas State (4)
• Trestan Ebner, Henderson, WR, 5-11, 180 — committed to TCU; additional offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Colorado State, Houston, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Texas, Ole Miss, SMU, Syracuse, UTSA, Texas A&M, Tulsa (18)
• Montrell Estell, Hooks, WR/DB, 6-2, 180 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Kansas, Notre Dame, SMU, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulane (12)
• Octavius Evans, Center, WR, 6-2, 186 — offers from Indiana, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Texas State, ULL (7)
• Ted Fuller, Harleton, RB, 5-11, 195 — offers from ULM, Wyoming (2)
• Tre Gatlin, Carthage, DE, 6-6, 210 —offer from Wyoming (1)
• Quan Hampton, Texas High, WR, 5-8, 165 — committed to Texas State (1)
• Austin Hawley, Gladewater, DB, 6-1, 200 — committed to ULM (1)
• Kollin Hurt, Gilmer, DB, 6-3, 175 — committed to Louisiana Tech; additional offers from ULM, UTSA (3)
• Jordan Johnson, Hooks, ATH, 6-0, 195 — committed to Army; additional offer from Air Force (2)
• Kayce Medlock, Arp, ATH, 5-10, 186 — committed to SMU; additional offers from Army, Colorado, Navy, Tulane, ULL, UTSA (7)
• Damion Miller, John Tyler, WR, 6-1, 189 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Baylor, Houston, Kansas, Missouri, North Texas, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, SMU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech (11)
• LaMarcus Morton, Gilmer, WR, 6-2, 175 — committed to Oklahoma State; additional offers from Arkansas State, Colorado State, Houston, Indiana, Louisiana Tech, Memphis, New Mexico State, Texas Tech, Tulsa, ULL, ULM, UTSA (13)
• Javonta Mosley, John Tyler, CB, 6-1, 170 — committed to UTSA; additional offers from Arkansas State, Houston, Memphis, North Texas, SMU, Southern Miss, Texas State, ULL, ULM (10)
• Cade Pearson, Texas High, QB, 6-3, 193 — committed to North Texas; additional offer from Wyoming (2)
• Dhailon Phillips, Lufkin, WR, 6-3, 195 — offers from Air Force, Army, Texas State (3)
• Dez Robinson, Atlanta, LB, 6-3, 210 — offers from UTEP, Wyoming (2)  
• Kordell Rodgers, Lufkin, QB/ATH, 5-10, 165 — committed to Texas State; additional offers from Arkansas State, ULM (3)
• Makyle Sanders, Tyler Lee, S, 6-1, 177 — committed to North Texas; additional offers from Air Force, Memphis, Navy (4)
• Bryson Smith, John Tyler, QB/ATH, 6-0, 170 — committed to Houston; additional offers from Air Force, Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Memphis, New Mexico, North Texas, Purdue, SMU, Southern Miss, Texas State, Tulane, Tulsa, ULL, ULM, UTSA (16)
• D’Torian Smith, Tatum, DE/LB, 6-3, 225 — committed to Air Force; additional offers from ULM, UTEP (3)
• Major Tennison, Bullard, TE, 6-6, 248 — committed to Alabama; additional offers from Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Oregon, SMU, Texas, Texas Tech, UCLA (14)
• Josh Thompson, Nacogdoches, CB, 6-0, 182 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Arizona State, Arkansas State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Houston, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisiana Tech, Minnesota, Missouri, North Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Penn State, SMU, TCU, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulane, UCLA, ULM, Utah, UTSA, Washington State, Wyoming (28)
• Lakendrick VanZandt, Henderson, S, 6-1, 196 — committed to TCU; additional offers from Arkansas State, Houston, Memphis, Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU, Tulane, Tulsa (8)
• Traveion Webster, Longview, S, 6-0, 197 — offer from ULM (1)