Longhorns add two more commitments

The Texas Longhorns have been on a bit of a recruiting roll over the last week and late Thursday morning, the Texas coaching staff got a bundle of good news when 2015 San Jose (CA) Valley Christian running back Kirk Johnson and 2016 wide receiver Collin Johnson both committed to the Longhorns. The brothers made the call just before lunchtime, with Kirk becoming UT's ninth commitment of the 2015 class and Collin becoming the first member of UT's 2016 class.

"I committed. My brother and I both," Kirk said via text shortly after he and Collin informed the coaches of their decision.

The Johnson brothers were believed to be Texas leans, and Longhorn fans had been watching their recruitments closely ever since the duo picked up scholarship offers at a UT junior day visit on March 1. Their father is former Texas all-America defensive back Johnnie Johnson, which seemed to give UT a leg up on the competition, and Kirk Johnson told Orangebloods.com on Wednesday that "good news" could be coming on Thursday, insinuating that a commitment could happen. Longhorn fans can now put this one in the books and officially welcome the Johnsons to the family.

A 6-0, 200-pound running back prospect, Kirk Johnson has kept in close contact with the Texas coaches ever since picking up his scholarship offer.

"I talk to (running backs) coach (Tommie) Robinson about once or twice a week, and coach (Charlie) Strong once a week or once every two weeks," Johnson said.

The brothers had Texas at the top of his list ever since picking up the UT offer, and Kirk said there were several factors that drew them to the Longhorns, including their family's history with the program.

"It's a bunch of things. I grew up a Texas fan, especially with my dad being in the college of hall fame, him going to Texas," Kirk said. "I've always been around there and the influence my dad brings. It's a good program, they're heading in the right direction with coach Strong."

Collin Johnson is a 6-5, 193-pound receiver who has also had Texas at the top of his list for some time.

"I've wanted to go to this school since I was young," Collin said when he picked up his Texas scholarship offer in early March.

Both players held scholarship offers from numerous programs, including Arizona State, Cal, Colorado State and Washington, among others. The brothers have indicated that once they made their commitments, there would be no wavering and Kirk said recently he would put an end to the recruiting process once his commitment was given.

"Once I commit, I'm going to shut recruiting down and that's going to be it," he said. "I don't mind that. That kind of gets my place, gets everything all set up."