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High school football transfers | All-Ohio RB Jamar Johnson heads to McKinley from GlenOak

peter holland jr., canton repository
·2 min read
GlenOak’s Jamar Johnson hits Jackson’s quarterback Lucas Ecrement on fourth down and the pass falls incomplete ending Jackson’s final possession, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.
GlenOak’s Jamar Johnson hits Jackson’s quarterback Lucas Ecrement on fourth down and the pass falls incomplete ending Jackson’s final possession, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.

CANTON — The McKinley Bulldogs added more depth in the backfield, creating more firepower in the Bulldogs' offense. Running back Jamar Johnson, who played at GlenOak the last three years, will play his final high school football season with the Bulldogs after transferring.

Johnson earned All-Ohio honors last season in helping the Golden Eagles reach the state playoffs and win a first-round game.

“GlenOak is still home but I just wanted to play with my brothers one last time,” Johnson told The Canton Repository. “I feel like at McKinley, I can show my full skill-set as a player.”

What also factored in Johnson’s decision to transfer to GlenOak’s Federal League’s foe is his family legacy connected to McKinley.

GlenOak’s Jamar Johnson is held up by Anthony French after scoring a touchdown to give GlenOak a 10-7 lead over Lorain in the fourth quarter, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.
GlenOak’s Jamar Johnson is held up by Anthony French after scoring a touchdown to give GlenOak a 10-7 lead over Lorain in the fourth quarter, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Johnson has uncles who starred at McKinley in basketball, Sedelle and Dwayne Broyles. Dwayne was a highly recruited basketball star who went on to play four years at James Madison University followed by 10 years in European leagues, where he was an all-star in four different leagues and won three consecutive Belgium Championships. Sedelle was part of the 2005-06 McKinley state championship basketball teams.

On the football side, Johnson is related to former All-Ohio defensive back Garland Rivers, who helped McKinley win the 1981 state championship and went on to play four years for the Michigan Wolverines before being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round in 1987. Rivers returned to Canton and has coached at Timken, McKinley and GlenOak in the past.

GlenOak's Jamar Johnson tries to run through McKinley's Alex Vazquez during a first-round playoff game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
GlenOak's Jamar Johnson tries to run through McKinley's Alex Vazquez during a first-round playoff game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.

With the addition of Johnson, McKinley now has two 1,000-yard rushers in the backfield.

Johnson rushed for 1,315 yards and seven touchdowns last fall at GlenOak, earning second-team All-Ohio honors in Division I. He’ll likely split carries with returning McKinley starter and Division I college prospect Nino Hill, who eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2022 and nearly did it again in 2023.

McKinley’s Nino Hill score a touchdown to give McKinley a 7-0 lead over St. Ignatius during the first quarter Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.
McKinley’s Nino Hill score a touchdown to give McKinley a 7-0 lead over St. Ignatius during the first quarter Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.

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Johnson looks forward to the challenge and to getting on the same page with his new teammates. "I’ve been playing with those guys since we were little so I’m looking forward to this upcoming season."

McKinley went 9-4 last season, claiming a share of the Federal League title and winning two playoff games— including a second-round win over St. Ignatius. The Bulldogs open the 2024 season against Warren Harding at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jamar Johnson transfers to Canton McKinley High School from GlenOak