4-star DT Taizse Johnson commits to Maryland football

Four-star defensive tackle Taizse Johnson from St. John’s College High School has committed to Maryland football, he announced Sunday night.

“why not slide to the crib? #TBIA,” Johnson wrote on Twitter along with his commitment.

Johnson is ranked as the No. 13 defensive tackle, No. 2 player out of Washington D.C. and a top-200 player in the class of 2021, according to the 247Sports Composite. He held offers from Alabama, Florida, Ohio State and South Carolina, among others.

Listed at 6’1, 290 pounds, Johnson will provide the Terps with a big body in the middle of their 3-4 defense — which was missing during the 2019 season.

Johnson will bring a mix of power and speed to the defensive tackle position along with the ability to blow through or slide around interior lineman and get after the quarterback. He also displays great vision and does well in keeping his head up and eyes focused on the play with the ability to recognize what’s developing.

Over the past weekend, Maryland head coach Mike Locksley and his staff hosted a number of local recruits — including Johnson and his St. John’s teammates running back Colby McDonald and Caleb Coombs — and were clearly able to make an impact.

Johnson was also high school teammates with five-star class of 2020 signee Rakim Jarrett who flipped his commitment from LSU to the Terps during the early signing period.

With Johnson’s commitment, Maryland football now has four players on board in the 2021 class — all of which come from the DMV area. The Terps rank No. 25 in the nation and seventh in the Big Ten, according to the 247Sports Composite, despite safety McDonogh commit Dante Trader Jr. remaining unranked.