Israel “Izzy” Johnigan, a 2028 Kansas City (Mo.) Center four-star tight end and priority Nebraska football target, is in the middle of a breakout junior season.
“It’s going great, best year of my life right now,” he told Hail Varsity. “Little breakout year, you could say. It’s just been good all around.”
Through seven games, Johnigan has helped Center to a 5-2 record, leading the Yellowjackets with 632 receiving yards and seven touchdowns while averaging over 100 yards per game and 23.4 yards per reception.
“I think I’ve put everything on tape so far,” he said. “Definitely showing my physicality, that I can block, catch the ball, run routes. I feel like I worked so hard for it and I put everything out, and everybody’s seeing it now in the nation.”
Johnigan saw his recruitment take off in the spring. He made his first visit to Nebraska to compete at the Battle of the Boneyard 7-on-7 tournament in June and left with an offer from the Huskers, his sixth offer at the time. That list has more than doubled since.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder returned to Lincoln on Saturday to take in his first game in Memorial Stadium.
“It’s the best atmosphere I’ve been in so far on my game-day visits,” he said. “It was never a dull moment in the game. It was always loud, rocking, couple times [Indiana] couldn’t hear. I just love everything about the stadium, releasing the balloons when they score. Never seen anything like it really.”
Johnigan was told to keep a close eye on Luke Lindenmeyer, who caught a season-high seven passes for 45 yards against the Hoosiers, and came away impressed with how the Huskers highlighted their starting tight end and the blocking effort he saw from the fifth-year senior.
“I love how they utilize the tight ends,” he said. “They utilize them very well, get them open, they definitely get them touches. I’d say this is one of the better games I watched this year, but I love how they utilize and motion them around for sure.”
Johnigan spent some time with tight ends coach Marcus Satterfield before Saturday’s Big Noon matchup. He’s been in regular contact with Satterfield since landing the offer from Nebraska in June.
“He just loves the way I can stretch the field vertically,” Johnigan said. “They said they need that in the tight end room; I definitely can do that for them.”
Johnigan noted he’s hearing from Satterfield on a weekly basis at this point as well as assistant head coach Jamar Mozee, who maintains strong ties to Missouri and particularly the Kansas City area. The consistent communication has been impactful, but the Huskers have taken it a step further.
“Sticks out to me how they watch my film and they also critique me on little things,” he said. “I need them to be honest with me so I can get better, and I’m still growing so I just love that.”
Johnigan is already planning to return to Nebraska at the end of the month to see the Huskers take on Washington on Halloween. As his recruitment heats up, he’s dialing in on the programs he can see himself at.
“I can see myself playing in that place,” he said, on why he’s returning to Nebraska. “Every visit I take is with intention. If I see myself playing there, I’m going to go back to that place to see what it really has to offer even more.”
Outside of Nebraska, Johnigan plans to return to Minnesota for the third time later this month and is scheduled to visit Kansas State next month. Recent offers from the likes of Penn State, Iowa, Wisconsin and Oregon signal other programs under consideration.
The four-star plans to take his time with his recruitment, aiming to narrow his list of contenders down to a top five or six and take official visits next offseason before making a decision. When the time comes, there’s one key factor that will lead to a program landing his commitment.
“My biggest thing is culture,” he said. “That’s my biggest thing, my family’s biggest thing — how loyal are they to they players? That’s really going to play a part. For us to make a decision, definitely relationship with the coaches and just building it.”
