Johnson talks Tennessee visit

New Tennessee head coach Butch Jones hosted his first official visitor the past several days when Cooper City, Fla., athlete Lemond Johnson was in Knoxville for his official visit.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Auburn commitment had only been talking to Tennessee coaches for a week before making the trip and because of that he didn't know what to expect going into the visit. But, after being on campus 48 hours, Johnson said the Vols definitely opened his eyes a bit.

"It was good. I had a good time. I really didn't know anything about Tennessee before I went. It was better than what I thought it was going to be because of the location and the campus was good. It gives you a more city feel which is good. I had a good time," Johnson said. "I really liked the school. It had nice facilities. All the assistants and people in the office were nice people. It was a really nice school."

While on campus Johnson was able to meet with coach Jones and safeties coach Willie Martinez, but spent most of his time with defensive coordinator John Jancek and also spent time with some of the support staff.

"I really didn't have a meeting with all the coaches but I had meetings with just the head coach and coach Martinez and I really wasn't in a meeting with the defensive coordinator because I was with him the whole time so I was basically talking to him the whole time I was there, just walking around and seeing things and going to lunch and we would talk frequently while doing that," Johnson said. "Talking to the people that helped with the Vol for Life and that's a good thing and coach (Bill) Baker, the NFL coordinator, and talking to him about how they get you ready for the league and things like that."

Johnson's time with the coaches and support staff made the biggest impact on him while on Rocky Top.

"When we first got up there they were like it would be very hard not to succeed here. When they first said that I really didn't get it," Johnson offered. "But, it's a great place with great facilities so you can become a better player athletically and then they have the people in the office that actually help you after football and if you want to go to the NFL they help you with that and they actually show you to help you. That was good and that was a really big part about it."

His time wasn't filled with just being with coaches and support staff, Johnson also was able to hang out with some current Vols.

"I chilled with a few players like Marlin (Lane) and some of the other players on the team. They were cool. They were real nice people and they seemed like a real family oriented team. They stayed with each other on and off the field," Johnson said.

With Johnson's visit now over he plans on talking to his family to come up with a final decision in the next few days. Most important to him is a place to enroll early, something Auburn can't offer anymore but the Vols can.

"Well, there's a couple of other schools but I've got to make my decision quick because I want to enroll early," Johnson said. "I have to talk to my family about but I'll probably be making my decision very soon because I'm trying to get in school early."