Louisville football | Freshman WR Josh Johnson impresses Bobby Petrino

Add slot receiver Josh Johnson to the list of Louisville true freshmen to earn the praise of coach Bobby Petrino.

Petrino said Johnson, the former four-star recruit from Atlanta, is ahead of U of L's two other first-year wide receivers after the first week of camp and that his ability to run after the catch could bring a new dimension to the offense. 

"Josh is a real natural receiver," he said. "... He's a really special runner after the catch, and it's been really exciting for me to see how he's been to this point. ... He can really catch the ball. He just looks good in that No. 84."

U of L wide receivers coach/co-offensive coordinator Lonnie Galloway, who personally recruited Johnson out of Woodward Academy, echoed Petrino that Johnson has impressive skills catching and running with the ball.

He said true freshman wideout Corey Reed will also have a chance to play this season, calling him a "tall, long, athletic kid who played at a great program in Atlanta also." 

"It's still early to say (if the freshmen will get in games)," Galloway said, "but they've shown flashes that they're picking the system up." 

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