
Glenbard West’s Brady Johnson and Josiah Wallace are ready to run it back this fall, and a few more times after that.Johnson, a tight end, and Wallace, an offensive tackle, both joined Northwestern’s 2027 recruiting class last month as the Wild-cats’ first in-state commits.“It wasn’t a huge factor, but it definitely was a factor,” Johnson told the Sun-Times of continuing to be teammates with Wallace. “I love playing with him. He’s a great person and a great football player.”Wallace is equally glad for the opportunity to keep lining up alongside Johnson next season and beyond.“It’s amazing,” he told the Sun-Times. “Another year with a dude I’ve been playing with a few years now.”Johnson winding up with the Wildcats isn’t a big surprise, considering his dad, Rob, was a starting center for Northwestern’s 1996 Rose Bowl team.“It was definitely a factor [in the decision],” Johnson said. “I know he wanted me to follow in his footsteps.”But the 6-3, 220-pounder also was drawn to Evanston for other reasons. Academics was one — he has a 3.84 grade-point average. He also likes “what Coach [David] Braun has continued to do with the program the last couple years.”He’s glad to have his college future set during a chaotic time for big-time college football recruiting, although his commitment hasn’t stopped other schools from extending offers.“It’s definitely been stressful,” Johnson said. “It’s still continuing, which is another stressful part.”Wallace (6-8, 300) likes Northwestern for many of the same reasons Johnson does.“Good academics and a school that…
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