NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State football Class of 2022 grew by another name Monday.
 
Kilgore College running back Garrison Johnson followed the lead of his Ranger teammate, Kennieth Lacy, and inked a national letter of intent with the Demons, who added their 11^th member of the early signing class.
 
Johnson, a 5-foot-11, 212-pounder from Manvel, Texas, played two seasons at Kilgore, rushing for 708 total yards across those two seasons. Johnson redshirted his first collegiate season at Syracuse in 2019.
 
His best games at Kilgore came against Tyler Junior College in the fall, rushing for 76 yards and a score. The 76 yards matched his career high, set against Blinn College in the 2021 spring season. Johnson proved to have a nose for the end zone, tallying six rushing scores in his first season with the Rangers.
 
Johnson initially signed with Syracuse after a standout career at Manvel High School in suburban Houston.
 
In four seasons at Manvel, Johnson topped 1,200 yards total offense each season, topped by a sophomore year in which he surpassed the 2,000-yard barrier and scored 18 touchdowns. He matched that scoring total as a senior, earning the fourth all-district honor of his career. A versatile athlete, Johnson also lettered in basketball, baseball and track and field at Manvel.
 
2022 Northwestern State Early Signing Class
Ronnie Caldwell, DB, 5-11, 195, Austin, Texas, Cedar Park HS/Tyler Junior College
Ray Gibson, DL, 6-2, 305, Philadelphia, Mississippi, Neshoba Central HS/East Central CC
Garrison Johnson, RB, 5-11, 212, Manvel, Texas, Manvel HS/Kilgore College
Kennieth Lacy, RB, 5-9, 185, Kilgore, Texas, Kilgore HS/Kilgore College
JaQuon Lott, DL, 6-4, 315, Lambert, Mississippi, Madison S. Palmer HS/Itawamba CC
Matt Mabry, OL, 6-3, 305, Mendenhall, Mississippi, Mendenhall HS/Jones College
Tory Morgan, LB, 5-11, 213, New Orleans, Louisiana, Edna Karr HS
Zach Patterson, WR/RS, 5-11, 180, Corinth, Mississippi, Corinth HS/East Mississippi CC
Erick Rogers, WR, 5-11, 190, Shannon, Mississippi, Shannon HS/Copiah-Lincoln CC
Christian Thomas, DE, 6-2, 235, Port Arthur, Texas, Memorial HS
Dez Wililams, LB, 6-0, 217, Mound Bayou, Mississippi, Cleveland Central HS/Coahoma CC