College prospects, good friends go at it on gridiron

College coaches have told Vandebilt cornerback Daren Kitchen all season that they want to see how he fares against other college-level prospects.

Just down the road, Kitchen’s close friend and Ellender wide receiver Jermaine Johnson has heard the same thing.

Friday night, they gave college scouts what they wanted to see.

The two friends squared off against one another.

With Vandebilt and Ellender pitted against one another on the gridiron, the two friends had to become football foes, going toe-to-toe on the field to try and advance their own collegiate stocks.

“That’s exciting for me, because we train together all summer,” Kitchen said. “I know I’ve got to bring my A-game, because I know he definitely will.”

The two local products have become friends in recent years thanks to the players both being in a similar situation.

Johnson is currently listed as a three-star wide receiver by Rivals.com and Kitchen is a three-star cornerback.

Through football, the players ended up running into one another and becoming close acquaintances.

“Like two years ago, we’d hit up a lot of camps together, and we’d do one-on-one drills a lot against one another, so we became friends from that, because we don’t take it easy on each other,” Kitchen said.

“We’re good friends,” Johnson said. “Daren, that’s my guy, man, we talk a lot.”

What they talk about is the recruiting process, something both players will be deeply rooted in until National Signing Day.

Kitchen has scholarship offers from Michigan, Louisiana Tech, Kansas and Texas A&M.

But there’s one offer the player still has yet to receive – LSU.

Kitchen said the Tiger coaches said they want to see how he fares against stiffer competition the remainder of the season before extending him an offer.

“They told me they are still evaluating me,” he said. “But getting an offer from them, that would be a game-changer, because they’re so close to home, you know? My mom would be able to come and see me play every game. And this is Louisiana and they are LSU, so of course it’d be a big deal.”

Anyone looking for a scouting report on the Vandebilt corner can ask Johnson, who said his counterpart is one of the best in Louisiana.

“He’s like Charles Woodson,” Johnson said. “He breaks on the football so hard, and he’s just a very smart cornerback.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Johnson has already completed the grunt work of his decision-making process.

The Ellender receiver committed to Memphis in July – a place he said felt like home.

But with the season heading into high gear, the 6-foot-4-inch standout said other schools are still actively recruiting him, and he might be inclined to listen if the school is prestigious enough.

“I’m still taking a look at several big-time programs to see if they’d be interested,” Johnson said. “But I love Memphis, too. I’m still committed to them.”

One would think Friday’s battle would have been the last of many for the players during their prep careers with Vandebilt and Ellender being in the same district.

But that wasn’t exactly the case, because while yes, their teams faced off against one another, they didn’t necessarily go head-to-head.

“He’s never guarded me in the other matchups,” Johnson said. “But we’ve gone against one another a lot in camps. I know he’ll win some and I’ll win some.”

Likewise, Kitchen gave his counterpart high praise and said playing against Johnson makes himself a better player.

“He has a lot of speed, and like everyone says, speed kills,” Kitchen said. “My goal in the game is to lock him down, but I know I have to have a short memory, because playmakers make plays and Jermaine is definitely a playmaker.”

So with Friday’s game in the bag, and college scouts getting the chance to see what they wanted, the two locals can get back to where they were before – being close friends.

Trading press coverage and Friday night lights for lazy Tuesday nights on the telephone talking about colleges and planning for the future – one that might find the two friends facing off against one another every day – in practice.

“We just spend a lot of time talking about what colleges give us the best chance to play,” Johnson said. “And maybe just trying to go to school together.”

When asked if that was also a real possibility, Kitchen had the same answer.

“We’re trying to,” he said with a smile. “You never know.”