Northwestern lands a Hilltopper twosome

Glenbard West’s Brady Johnson and Josiah Wallace are ready to run it back this fall, and a few more times after that.

Johnson, a tight end, and Wallace, an offensive tackle, both joined Northwestern’s 2027 recruiting class last month as the Wild-cats’ first in-state commits.

“It wasn’t a huge factor, but it definitely was a factor,” Johnson told the Sun-Times of continuing to be teammates with Wallace. “I love playing with him. He’s a great person and a great football player.”

Wallace is equally glad for the opportunity to keep lining up alongside Johnson next season and beyond.

“It’s amazing,” he told the Sun-Times. “Another year with a dude I’ve been playing with a few years now.”

Johnson winding up with the Wildcats isn’t a big surprise, considering his dad, Rob, was a starting center for Northwestern’s 1996 Rose Bowl team.

“It was definitely a factor [in the decision],” Johnson said. “I know he wanted me to follow in his footsteps.”

But the 6-3, 220-pounder also was drawn to Evanston for other reasons. Academics was one — he has a 3.84 grade-point average. He also likes “what Coach [David] Braun has continued to do with the program the last couple years.”

He’s glad to have his college future set during a chaotic time for big-time college football recruiting, although his commitment hasn’t stopped other schools from extending offers.

“It’s definitely been stressful,” Johnson said. “It’s still continuing, which is another stressful part.”

Wallace (6-8, 300) likes Northwestern for many of the same reasons Johnson does.

“Good academics and a school that will develop me all four years,” he said. “I felt like Northwestern wanted me the most out of everybody.”

Although family history pretty much dictated Johnson’s athletic path, Wallace wasn’t always destined to hit the gridiron.

“My mom didn’t really want me to play football,” said Wallace, who started in the sport at age 7. “[But] ever since then, I loved it, and she believed in the dream I had.”

Johnson and Wallace were both lineman growing up. Wallace has been on the offensive side almost exclusively, except for a stint on defense in eighth grade. Johnson, always big for his age, was limited to playing on the line because of youth football’s weight rules. Then he got to Glenbard West.

“Coach [Chad] Hetlet pulled me up to the sophomore team and said, ‘You want to play tight end?’ ” Johnson said. “It definitely took a little bit to get used to. I was pretty skinny as a freshman.”

Now, he and Wallace are Power Four recruits looking to finish their high school careers in style. Two years ago, the Hill-toppers missed the IHSA playoffs for the first time since 2006, but they had a bounce-back season in 2025, going 9-2. Other key pieces besides Johnson and Wallace are returning, including quarterback AJ Rayford.

Glenbard West, known for its potent run game for years, might be airing it out more this fall.

“I think [the offense] is going to be pretty dynamic,” Johnson said. “Coach Hetlet is going to put in a lot of new stuff. We for sure started to open up the playbook last season.”

The goal is to be playing on the last day.

“This year, we’re coming out to win the state championship,” Wallace said.