Clemson quarterback to transfer

Tony Crumpton by Assoc. Editor -

Clemson sophomore quarterback Hunter Johnson will transfer from the school, TigerNet confirmed Monday.

Johnson wanted to thank Dabo Swinney and Clemson nation in a school release on Monday afternoon.

"I want to thank Coach Swinney and the Clemson family for giving me the opportunity to be a part of something special,” said Johnson. “I’ve met some amazing people who I will forever call family. I am a better man and a better football player because of my time spent at Clemson. Go Tigers!”

The signal-caller completed 8-for-14 passes for 85 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the 2018 Spring Game. Last season, he went 21-of-27 passing for 234 yards in 76 snaps over seven games.

Coming out of high school, he was the top quarterback in the nation by ESPN, No. 2 quarterback in the nation according to 247Sports, Elite 11 quarterback, and MVP of the US Army All-American game.

According to ESPN, he is the third straight No. 1 ranked pocket passer by ESPN from the 17,16, and 15 classes to transfer (Jacob Eason and Blake Barnett).

Johnson spoke about the quarterback competition after a successful 2018 spring game.

"I like where I'm at, it's competitive but it's making us all better. We all enjoy it, we all love competing against each other. It's a good group," he said.

With the departure of Johnson, Zerrick Cooper, and Tucker Israel, this leaves a trio of scholarship quarterbacks at Clemson with senior Kelly Bryant, true freshman Trevor Lawrence and redshirt freshman Chase Brice.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said out of the spring that his team could win with any of the QBs on the roster.

“Well, we've got a really good situation. Never had quite this type of situation where we've got really four guys that I think could go win with, literally,” Swinney said before Johnson's transfer. “I think we could go win with any of those guys. I think they're all really working hard to be the best version of themselves. They're all at different spots.

“Great young men, very committed, very competitive situation and they all had some great moments in the spring. They all had some not so great. We’re in the process of going through our meetings with those guys right now, and it's a very good situation."

Johnson reportedly could be looking at several Big Ten schools including Purdue and Northwestern as his one of his next stops since he is from the Midwest (Indiana). His brother Cole played for Northwestern a few years ago.

However, because of NCAA rules, Johnson will have to sit out a year and will be eligible to play three more years starting in 2019.

See Clemson's scholarship numbers with Johnson's transfer