North Carolina represents the third and final program that quarterback Max Johnson will be a part of in his college career. Spending his first two years at LSU followed by two more at Texas A&M before joining the Tar Heels ahead of the 2024 season as a graduate transfer.
Johnson was one of the most experienced quarterbacks to enter the transfer portal during the offseason, appearing in 30 games with 22 starts in the SEC in the past four seasons. But following spring practice in Chapel Hill, he explained what appealed to him about North Carolina and in particular their offense.
“It’s attractive because you’ve got the last however many quarterbacks they put in the league,” Johnson said. “Drake (Maye) had an unbelievable span that he had here, Sam (Howell), Mitch Trubisky, all those guys had an unbelievable college career.”
Johnson joins the program after a five-year run of excellence at the quarterback position for North Carolina. Following in the footsteps of Drake Maye who was recently selected as the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Who himself came after the program’s all-time leader in passing yards and total offense with Sam Howell, who started all 17 games for the Washington Commanders last NFL season.
Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsay enters his second season at North Carolina, and although coordinators have changed over the years, the Tar Heels have been able to maintain success at the position. A standard that Johnson will now look to uphold during the 2024 season.
“It was fun to watch, and I know that there’s been different offensive coordinators coming through, but they’ve all produced. It was really fun watching Coach Lindsay last year and it’s kind of cool learning that same system Drake ran and he put up crazy numbers,” Johnson said.
“But honestly the people I absolutely loved, loved the people here when I came on a visit.”
Johnson and the Tar Heels seem like a perfect fit, joining the team with 5,853 yards, 47 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his career. But he still has to compete with Conner Harrell for the starting job under center, who has far less experience but has spent the last two seasons with North Carolina.
But regardless of who becomes UNC’s starting quarterback, it will be fascinating to see if they can keep up the trend of elite play at the position that’s now become the new standard in Chapel Hill.
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