Relationship between Hayes Johnson, Kentucky FB turning into family atmosphere

Hayes Johnson and Kiyaunta Goodwin have recently grown to become friends.

The two share plenty of similarities: Both are massive human beings for high school students, lead their team’s respective offensive lines, and train together with Chris Vaughn at Aspirations Gym up in Louisville, KY. Also, and most importantly, Vince Marrow and Kentucky Football are heavily courting both.

Goodwin, the diamond of UK’s impressive 2022 recruiting class, has been committed to the ‘Cats since mid-April. The 6-foot-7, 300-pounder is a five-star offensive tackle and one of the top 20 players in the nation, per On3‘s database. There isn’t a better prospect to build the future of the Big Blue Wall around than Goodwin.

But he won’t be in Lexington forever. Which is why Kentucky has its eyes on Johnson.

Mutual interest with Kentucky

Clocking in at 6-foot-5, 295 pounds, Johnson is just a sophomore (class of 2024) at Taylor County High School in Campbellsville, KY. Kentucky is his only Divison I offer thus far, but others are poking around. Marrow extended a scholarship in June following a camp visit and Johnson has been hearing from the likes of Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, and Louisville ever since.

MAC schools Miami (OH) and Bowling Green State have been reaching out, as well. Louisville is hoping to get him to a game at the end of this month.

Johnson is a young, rising star on a young, talented Taylor County team that is 6-1 this season and ranked No. 5 in 3A. The Cardinals’ only loss on the year came against still-undefeated Green County, 36-19.

Despite the youth, Johnson is part of an offensive line that has allowed Taylor County running back Peyton Smith to run for over 1,000 yards and score 15 touchdowns. The Cardinals average 37.7 points per game and have rushed for nearly 2,000 yards, which ranks fourth in 3A.

But Johnson is hardly satisfied with where his team is at right now.

“Our one loss, it’s a lot of mental mistakes,” Johnson told KSR earlier this week. “We’re a pretty young team and I’ve had to step up a lot myself and kinda become a pretty big leader. It’s just trying to get everybody on the same page and have the same goals.

“We’re trying to find our identity of what we want to be.”

Johnson will soon have a chance to showcase the potential that earned him a Kentucky offer on Friday night. The Kroger KSR Game of the Week will pit Taylor County against Glasgow. The Scotties of Glasgow come in with a 6-1 record of its own and a No. 2 3A ranking. The outcome will have playoff implications.

Making Kroger Field home

One of Johnson’s aforementioned goals is to make it to Kroger Field for a state title appearance, which Taylor County has never been able to do in its history. The Cardinals will surely have a shot if an identity is eventually established, though.

Johnson was able to experience a slight taste of what a rowdy Kroger Field is like during Kentucky’s 42-21 win over LSU last weekend, but in a different setting as a recruit with a front-row seat.

As someone who’s been going to Kentucky games since he was little, Johnson admits the atmosphere was unlike anything he’s ever seen there.

“I’ve just never seen Kroger Field like that,” Johnson said. “Where the fans are so into it now. I was at the Mississippi State game when Benny Snell was still here. When we were doing good everybody was cheering but not consistently the whole game like it is now.”

Johnson grew up cheering for the Kentucky Wildcats, which will surely give Marrow and the ‘Cats an edge in the recruiting department. The connection with Goodwin is key, too, as they both chalk it up on a consistent basis; whether it’s at Kroger Field for statement victories or Aspirations Gym for a workout, their relationship continues to grow.

Kentucky is already beginning to feel like a family to Johnson because of it.

“Kiyaunta and I are pretty close, we talk working out and stuff,” Johnson added. “I never really knew it until I started interacting with Kentucky, but Vince Marrow and Coach (Eric) Wolf and Coach (Mark) Stoops, it feels like a family almost there.”

If Johnson can one day lead his high school team to Kroger Field, there’s no reason to believe he can’t one day play on the same field in a Wildcat uniform.