$28M Buckeyes Legend Launches New Initiative for Ohio High School Football

This new award will be given out by his own charity, the Paris Johnsons Jr. Foundation. Johnson has been running the group since his senior year in high school. Having taken the initiative at such a young age, he wants to inspire young footballers to do the same.

“The award is about more than just football performance – it’s about celebrating young men who protect their teammates on the field and serve as leaders in their schools and communities,” Johnson told Bucknuts.

Paris Johnson Jr. is a blend of excellence both on and off the field. He was the No. 1 OT of the class of 2020. Johnson is also the highest-drafted OL in Ohio State history. But even during his football success, Johnson made it a point to give back to the community. The Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation caters to struggling veterans and high school athletes. By 2023, it had helped out 100 veterans and 350 student-athletes, per Arizona Sports. Moreover, Johnson even took out some of his funds from his NIL deal with the Charqui Jerky company to help run the foundation.

This special award will be given out to a player who “[embodies] the values of hard work, dedication, and selflessness that make great offensive linemen and even better people.” Paris Johnson Jr. is encouraging young footballers to take up the charge of being a leader at a young age, having seen the results of doing so himself. The award has already released a list of OLs on the watchlist, which includes 2 OSU commits.

Two top OSU commits named to the Ohio High School OL of the Year award

Ohio State has the 9^th-best recruiting class of 2026, and some star commits are making themselves known already. Star OLs Sam Greer and Max Riley have been named to the Ohio High School Offensive Lineman of the Year Award. Greer is one of the best in the 2026 cycle, currently ranked the 5^th-best OT of the class. Riley is the 9^th-best IOL. Greer even stands to be one of the best OLs Ohio State has recruited since Johnson. Riley can also create a huge impact as an IOL by the time he arrives at Columbus.

Sam Greer is one of the biggest in the 2026 cycle, quickly emerging as a top prospect for Ohio State. At 6-7 and 317 pounds, Greer is a force ready to go. “He changes the dynamic of the game,” the OT’s high school coach, Tim Tyrell, told Cleveland.com.

Riley is a budding star at Avon High as well. Coach Matt Kostelnik raved about his leadership skills at such a young age. “The kids call him Coach Max for a reason—he’s a coach on the field for us,” he told Press Pros Magazine. The Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation is setting its eyes on the right people for the award.

Both OTs will be signing at Columbus next year, marking another wave of fresh Ohio State talent. But they’ll be walking under the shadow of Paris Johnson Jr. and his legacy of being a leader in the community. Like Johnson said, it’s being a presence in and away from the game that sets players like him apart from the crowd.