Raiders land first commitment of '17 class

The month of June has shown to be a fruitful time for the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders over the last few years, and this year appears to be no exception at MT landed their first commitment of the '17 class with WR Tyrese Johnson out of Halls High (TN).

Johnson attended MT's latest Elite Camp, where he made his commitment official and picked MT over an offer from Tennessee Tech.

Aldo Amato of the Daily News Journal was first to report Johnson's commitment.

In Johnson, the Blue Raiders get a versatile playmaker who can be utilized on both sides of the ball. For now, it appears as though the Blue Raiders want Johnson in the slot receiver role, something that Johnson told Amato he looks forward to given that his high school team runs a similar scheme to the Blue Raider offense.

According to his NCSA profile, Johnson says of himself:

"My short term goal is to be accepted into a prestigious college/university that will allow me to showcase my talent academically as well as athletically. I am a good candidate for your team because I am dedicated, a hard worker, a team player, a leader when needed, outgoing, friendly, and I always give 150% effort. I am different from other recruits because I work just as hard off the field as well as on the field. I can follow directions the first time given, and I learn quickly. Once I master a skill, I always look for different ways to improve and make myself a better person not just athletically."

Johnson has become a proven commodity for Halls. As a junior, he hauled in 15 touchdown receptions and racked up over 1,100 receiving yards while also putting in work at the safety position.

Steve Ellis was credited as Johnson's primary recruiter.

*Keep up with GoMiddle.com for more coverage on Tyrese Johnson in the coming days.*