Mississippi State Has a New 'Dog'!

Tomareo Johnson is poised to show up and show out for the Mississippi State Bulldogs!

As if the 4th of July didn't have enough fireworks, the Mississippi State Bulldogs received their spark in the form of a commitment from 3-star safety, Tomareo Johnson from Pascagoula High in Pascagoula, Mississippi. It only took one-year of high school football for the versatile safety to garner the attention of several D1 colleges, eventually making Starkville his future home. The converted basketball player brings big play making abilities to the Pascagoula Panthers and eventually the Mississippi State Bulldogs secondary. Expect a more mature and seasoned year two from Johnson now that his sole focus is on the gridiron. In this sitdown with The VIP Crew, Johnson explains why he is a “Dog”, why MSU, and much more!

The VIP Crew: Congratulations on your commitment to Mississippi State.

Johnson: Yes sir! Thank you!

The VIP Crew: You made it clear that MSU being the first major to offer influenced your decision. Was that the mindset going into recruitment, the first major would be favored?

Johnson: Yeah, they weren’t my first D1 offer. My first D1 offer was Arkansas State. It was that first SEC offer, but I didn’t choose them because they were my first SEC offer. It meant a lot, but they backed everything that they were saying up on my official visit.

The VIP Crew: To only play one year of high school football up to this point and score a scholarship from a SEC school, what does that say about Tomareo Johnson?

Johnson: It shows me that I have a lot of potential. I still have more. Last year was just scratching the surface. I will become more seasoned as this year progresses. I have a whole nother level, a whole nother gear to bring to the game this year.

The VIP Crew: Your junior year of high school, after only playing basketball, you decide to try out for football. What influenced that decision 3-years into your high school journey?

Johnson: I was probably one of the ones that surprised everybody because I didn’t really show my athleticism on the basketball court. I was a shooter. They [Football coaches] were like, “Come on, we would love to have you.” They weren’t overly excited. As the season progressed, I started to surprise them. The crazy part is, people think I just came in and was a starter, but I wasn’t. I had to earn a spot. I ain’t play over five snaps in one game until week three. Week 3 was my first start. That was my first time playing in a real game.

The VIP Crew: Are you done with basketball or are you going to do both?

Johnson: No sir! Basketball is done. I will graduate in December and be on campus at Mississippi State in January.

The VIP Crew: In what ways do you feel it will benefit you as a student-athlete to arrive in January?

Johnson: I like being on the field, sir. So, I will have my head done to the ground grindin’. I’m going there to find where my place is on the team. If that’s special teams my first year, I will give that all I got. If I can get reps, I’m going to take advantage of every rep. That’s what I really want. I’m just going in to find a spot on the team and play my role.

The VIP Crew: Your PBU’s and interception stats reflect your ball hawking abilities. I read where you said, although you can play all safety positions, you prefer free safety. Do you feel that’s the best spot to be able to evaluate the entire field and break on the football?

Johnson: Everybody’s goals in that secondary is to catch interceptions. The free safety is the one getting all of the interceptions. The strong safety rolling down… I love to hit. I love to do all of that. It’s something about catching interceptions. It just allows you to be yourself and go make a play. You feel free.

The VIP Crew: What has the transition from basketball to football been like for you, and have you been able to use some of your skillset from basketball in football?

Johnson: How I attack the football, I look at it like a rebound. When the ball is in the air, I look at it like a rebound, so when I crossed over to football, catching the football is where I exceled.

The VIP Crew: You described yourself as a “Dog,” on the football field. What makes you a dog?

Johnson: I don’t give up. If somebody beat me on a rep, they gotta see me again. They gotta see me every play of the game. That’s my mental. I don’t feel like nobody is better than me. When I go to the next level, I earned a scholarship there too, so why be scared. I’m just as good. I ain’t afraid of nobody.

The VIP Crew: You’re 6’2 and right at 200 pounds, but you had to develop your body from basketball to football player. Last year opposing teams were dealing with a basketball player trying to be a football player, now they are dealing with a confident football star. That’s got to be scary for opposing teams.

Johnson: Yes sir! I was 170 last year. On my official visits, I was 195. I didn’t really like that because I feel I play my fastest at 190, so I will drop a few pounds.

The VIP Crew: What was your interactions like with the coaching staff at Mississippi State?

Johnson: My positions coach has a lot of ball knowledge and they were making everything feel like home. Why not go play for a team where you have been dreaming of playing. Every Mississippi kid dreams of playing for Mississippi State or Ole Miss. I have an opportunity to do that, so I took it.

The VIP Crew: Obviously, you have unfinished business at the prep level. What are the expectations for the Pascagoula High Panthers this year?

Johnson: We gotta get over that hump; the second round in the playoffs. My coaches were all texting me, “Congratulations,” and I’m telling them, “Thank you, but I’m ready to ball.” Last year, losing in the playoffs hurt, but I was ready to get back to basketball. But this year, I am completely dialed in, it is something in me, and I can’t wait to start the season.

The VIP Crew: Do you have any games on the schedule circled or do you circle them all?

Johnson: All of them circled. The first game is circled and it’s one game at a time.

The VIP Crew: What have you done in the offseason to improve or enhance your game?

Johnson: My speed… I cover a lot of ground, but I didn’t throw that to the side, I still work on that. But I feel like I was behind in the weight room, so I lived in the weight room. My body looks completely different. I could show you from last year when I first came to now, you would be shocked. Another thing is my footwork. The basics at DB, 1 break, two-step, ya know.

The VIP Crew: Are you going to attempt to be a two-sport athlete at MSU?

Johnson: No sir. I’m just going to focus on football.

The VIP Crew: What was it like for you when the offers and letters started to pour in?

Johnson: It was surreal to have something you have been talking about your entire life to come to fruition. It’s hard to explain. Everybody talking about me getting to it on my first year, but getting to the next level and not doing something is a waste of time.

The VIP Crew: Now that you are committed to playing big time Division 1 football, do you think teams will stay away from you this year and how do you counter that?

Johnson: To be honest sir, I’m the second highest recruit on the team. There is a 4-star on my team and he is a safety too. Last year they were coming to my side because they were trying to go away from him, so that got me my plays. This year, I don’t know what they are going to try and do because the highest recruits on the team at safety, the back end of the defense. It’s going to be hard to throw the ball.

The VIP Crew: What type of player is Pascagoula putting on the field this year and Mississippi State getting next season?

Johnson: I’m a dog, a workhorse, and I like to lead by example. I hold everybody accountable. No matter who you are. The main thing, everybody got a job and a role.