Nebraska landed a major transfer this offseason in former 5-star defensive back Tyreke Johnson from Ohio State.

The unsung hero in that recruitment? Current Huskers safety Deontai Williams.

Williams and Johnson grew up together and have known each other since their Pop Warner days, Williams said at Big Ten Media Days on Thursday. They also both attended the same high school — Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Fla.

So when Johnson entered the transfer portal after beginning his career at Ohio State, Williams made the push for him to come to Nebraska.

“I said would you want to come to a place like Nebraska? He said, ‘…If you can convince me, maybe,’ Williams recalled. “So that’s what I did. I showed him around, showed him how this fan base is so crazy about their football players and stuff like that.”

Johnson played sparingly for the Buckeyes, but his high school pedigree is impressive. According to 247Sports Composite rankings, he was the No. 20 overall player in the country for the class of 2017.

Williams said Johnson is eager to get back to elite status.

“I see that hunger in him every day, every work out,” Williams said. “You see that passion that he have for the game. I know he wants to go out there, get his name out there and let people know he’s still that 5-star talent he once was.”

Nebraska will be looking for big seasons for both players in 2021. The Cornhuskers open their campaign against Illinois on Aug. 28.

Here’s a longer clip of Williams discussing his friendship with Johnson: