Let’s get this out of the way first: No one is comparing Steilacoom High School receiver Jaleo Johnson to Emeka Egbuka in terms of the overall ability package.
The former Steilacoom great and 2019 TNT All-Area player of the year is one of the best high school football players to ever come out of Washington, moving onto a decorated collegiate career at Ohio State before being selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft by Tampa Bay.
He’s tearing it up as a rookie, too, racking up 562 yards and five touchdowns on 34 receptions, averaging 16.5 yards per catch.
But Johnson, a sophomore at Steilacoom, is making a name for himself with the Sentinels, too. Per MaxPreps’ statewide leaderboard, Johnson leads the state in receiving yards with 1,007 yards on the season. He’s the only player in the state to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark, averaging 112 yards per game with 11 touchdowns.
In last week’s 40-22 win over Fife in 2A SPSL play, Johnson caught 10 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. The 5-foot-6 wideout has scored at least one receiving touchdown in every game this season. He has two games with a pair of touchdowns.
“I feel like it’s just all the work I’ve put in through the offseason,” Johnson said during a weight-lifting session on Monday afternoon at Steilacoom High School. “Me and my quarterback, in the summer, we were working every day before the season.”
That quarterback is junior Titus Kaeka, who knows Johnson is going to get open more often than not.
“He’s super shifty,” Kaeka said. “He can get out of his breaks really quick. He’s super fast, as well.”
Regular season 2025:50 receptions1,000 yards10 TDs Playoffs next weekPlease check out my regular season highlights?@WestbrookCoach??@WAAirRaid??@risefootball_??@BrandonHuffman??@CoachKHaller??@SteillyFB? https://t.co/ZFlb02fRbh
— jaleo johnson (@JaleoJohnson1) October 31, 2025
At his height, Steilacoom coach Kyle Haller says some opposing coaches assume he’s a slot receiver. But Johnson thrives on the outside in space. The last Steilacoom player who could get open as consistently as Johnson? That’s right — Egbuka.
“I think he could excel in the slot but at the same time, when you look at isolating him 1-on-1 with (defensive backs), we haven’t had anyone since (Egbuka in 2019) that can separate in that sense, the way he can.
“He runs great routes. … His hands are unbelievable. His understanding of how to be a wide receiver and do the little things, flashing hands late, catching the ball with hands. He’s very advanced for a sophomore.”
It’s quickness, but it’s also an ability to read defenders and find ways to separate from them at the line of scrimmage. Johnson is a student of the game.
“I’m not the fastest, I’m not the strongest, but I really run routes,” Johnson said. “I resemble my game after Emeka. Just work every day on routes, knowing the little things like coverages, when to dive and spray out of your releases and just inquiring about the little things.”
Steilacoom (7-2) took third place in the 2A SPSL this season, beating everyone except league champion Orting and runner-up Franklin Pierce. Steilacoom will host Ephrata (6-3) in a Week 10 playoff game, 2 p.m. on Saturday at Steilacoom High School. The winner will advance to the Class 2A state tournament, which begins next weekend.
Expect the ball to go Johnson’s way often on Saturday in Haller’s pass-heavy offense.
“I remember in eighth grade, saying I was the best receiver in the state,” Johnson said. “Now I can actually say that confidently.”