Anthony Johnson transferring from Jeannette

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 | 2:21 PM

Anthony Johnson is parting ways with Jeannette — and not just the high school and its football team. The incoming senior defensive end is leaving the city, the WPIAL and the state.

Johnson, who has numerous Division I scholarship offers, said Wednesday he is transferring to Cleveland Heights High School in Ohio.

He said he will enroll Monday.

He initially came to Jeannette from Allderdice and was swayed by friends and teammates to go out for football, a sport he had not played since middle school.

He became a bolt of energy on defense and helped lead the Jayhawks to glory. But for as quick as Johnson broke onto the scene, he’s gone just as fast.

Johnson said his father is moving his cleaning and landscaping business to Ohio, which this time prompted the change of venue.

“I am really excited, they have a great coaching staff there,” Johnson said of Cleveland Heights. “I’m ready to play against the best competition and get better and prepared for college. I’ll miss the players at Jeannette, and I wish them all the best.”

Johnson has offers from Syracuse, Central Michigan, Buffalo, Maine, Delaware, UMass, Toledo and others. He has interest from Penn State, Michigan State and Pitt.

Jeannette coach Roy Hall said he heard rumblings about Johnson possibly leaving and received a text from him Wednesday confirming the rumors.

“Every time I would ask him about it he would say, ‘Coach, I’m not going anywhere,’” Hall said. “I guess we just have to move on.”

Hall knows how much Johnson will be missed on the defense of the returning WPIAL and PIAA Class A champions.

“He was the leading tackler for us last year, all-conference and defensive player of the year in the conference,” Hall said. “He has nine or 10 scholarship offers. Need I say more?”

Johnson had 134 tackles and 12 sacks last season.

He was recently selected as a Tribune-Review preseason all-star .

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.