Sylmar’s Green, Johnson Commit to Ohio State

Kenyatta Green and Girmar Johnson, football teammates at Sylmar High, will remain teammates next fall when they join the Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference. The players committed to Ohio State on Monday and will sign national letters of intent Wednesday, the first day of the winter signing period.

In addition, Frank Romano of Crespi committed to Northern Arizona, an NCAA Division I-AA school, and Jonathan Campbell of Poly committed to Cal State Northridge, where he will play football and baseball.

Green and Johnson visited Ohio State together and also took trips to Washington State and Nevada Las Vegas. Johnson also visited Colorado and UCLA. Both scored 710 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound defensive back, grew up in Ann Arbor, Mich., and said he always wanted to play in the Big Ten. The decision became easier when Green, a 6-1, 230-pound linebacker, chose Ohio State too.

“It eases the tension and relieves the homesickness to have someone I’m really close to go there with me,” Johnson said. “I liked their program and the tradition is exciting.”

Said Green: “I like the town of Columbus because they support the team and I wanted to get away from home.”

Johnson, who was a City Section semifinalist in the 100 meters last spring, was a first-team Times All-Valley selection who also gained 286 yards in 41 carries as a running back last fall. He said he’ll play exclusively on defense in college. Green was a second-team Times All-Valley pick.

Romano (6-3, 217) was a Times All-Valley first-team selection at linebacker for Crespi but will play tight end in college. He caught 25 passes for 348 yards and five touchdowns last fall.

Campbell (5-11, 190) was named City 3-A Division Player of the Year after leading Poly to a City championship last fall. He rushed for 2,091 yards and scored 31 touchdowns but might have an even brighter future as a baseball player.

He batted .357 with 23 runs batted in and was one of the area’s top defensive outfielders last spring.