2026 Quarterback Michael Johnson Talks Cincinnati Offer And Early Top-Five Recognition For Bearcats

TUNNEL HILL — Cincinnati has been after many signal callers as of late looking to add someone to their 2026 class. One of the potential options is Michael “Mike” Johnson.

Johnson is a 2026 quarterback from Dutchtown High School (Georgia). He measures in at around 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, and is unranked.

“The Cincinnati offer means a lot,” Johnson said to All Bearcats. “It’s my third offer from the Big 12 Conference. The Bearcats offense definitely caters to both of my abilities of being able to pass and run. I remember watching Desmond Ridder a couple of years ago when he played at Cincinnati and saw how electric the offense was. There’s so much to be excited about watching the Bearcats operate.

“I spoke with Coach Pete Thomas. You could hear the excitement and passion when speaking with him. The conversation went well, he asked who had offered me, and the next thing I knew, he extended an offer and said he was excited to get me to Cincy and show me the campus. Just from that initial conversation, he’s a coach I could play for because he came off very genuine when speaking with him.”

Johnson likes UC's potential over the next few years.

“With Cincy just joining the Big 12 in 2023, I think the sky’s is the limit for this program," Johnson said. "It’s a great school, not just in football, but they have a solid track record in being a prestigious program in many sports that’s offered at the university and ultimately, I know I’ll get a great education there too as they’re highly regarded in Ohio with good undergrad programs. I’ve spoken with my mom and we plan to take a visit to the university in the future.

“The Bearcats are certainly in my top five. As I’m still very early in my recruiting process, I’m extremely impressed with the conversations and interest shown by the coaches at Cincinnati. I appreciate them for recognizing my talents and believing that I’d be a great fit for their program.”