Maryland flips former FSU pledge Sean Johnson for third 2026 pledge this week

Ahmed Ghafir
35 minutes ago
2 min read

Maryland football now has its third flip commitment of the week after landing Spalding (MD) three-star defensive back Sean Johnson.

Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound defensive back, becomes the first commitment out of Spalding this cycle and flips his commitment from Florida State to Maryland. The news comes less than one week after the local defensive back visited College Park for the Michigan game, marking his first visit of the fall.

Johnson was a top target at cornerback to begin the cycle with assistant Aazaar Abdul-Rahim leading the charge, making him a familiar face on campus through the 2024 season into the spring with an official visit expected.

But those plans were scrapped after Johnson committed to the Seminoles in April while only visiting Tallahassee during June.

In the end, Johnson gives Maryland his pledge days away from the early signing period with head coach Mike Locksley landing at least one target out of the Severn powerhouse in each of the last three recruiting cycles.

“It was good because my mom got to meet coach [Mike] Locksley too. She was just asking questions, he was asking where we lived and how we got to Spalding and everything so just getting to know her a bit more. I think that was her second time meeting coach Aazaar [Abdul-Rahim],” Johnson told IBG after a spring visit. “It was good just spending time with the coaches.”

Johnson becomes the latest defensive back in the 2026 class alongside DeMatha (MD) three-star safety Darrell Carey, St. Albans (DC) three-star safety Zahir Cobb and St. Frances (MD) three-star cornerback Hakim Satterwhite. He also becomes the third flip commitment of the week after head coach Mike Locksley has landed former Ohio State DL commit Cam Brickle and App State QB Nathan Bernhard, bumping the class to 16 commits this cycle.

Johnson was an anchor in Spalding’s secondary to end his high school career as a four-time MIAA champion.

Johnson also becomes the seventh in-state commit alongside Carey, Satterwhite, five-star Zion Elee, three-star Javonte Williams, three-star Damon Hall and three-star Jianni Davis.

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