FOOTBALL: PNG’s Garth commits to Texas

Published 12:08 pm Monday, February 18, 2019

Pretty soon, Roschon Johnson will have a Port Neches-Groves teammate on his team again.

Indians junior offensive right tackle Jaylen Garth announced on Twitter Sunday that he is verbally committed to the University of Texas. Johnson, a quarterback, graduated from PNG and signed with the Longhorns in December.

https://twitter.com/JaylenGarth/status/1097194752112496641/photo/1

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PNG coach Brandon Faircloth said the 6-foot-6, 285-pound Garth visited Texas “a few times” with Johnson during the football season.

“I think Roschon being there had something to do with his decision,” Faircloth said. “He felt like it was the right thing to do for him and his family.”

Garth helped protect Johnson the past two seasons and earned All-District 12-5A Division II and The News Super Team honors. Johnson combined for 49 passing and rushing touchdowns as a senior, as the Indians went 9-4 and made the Region III semifinals for a third straight season.

Garth’s announcement read: “COMMITTED … [pen-in-hand icon] #HookEm [Hook ’em hand sign] [Orange heart]” with a graphic of him just outside a player’s tunnel at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. A tweet from another person showed Garth dressed in a Texas uniform along with Johnson.

https://twitter.com/search?q=jaylen%20garth&src=tyah

Garth is ranked the 62nd-best high school player at his position in the state by Rivals.com. He drew 15 offers, including Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, LSU, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

“He’s just a hard-working kid,” Faircloth said. “Great to see the hard work pay off as a coach.

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

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