Fansided

Former top recruit Hunter Johnson transferring to Northwestern

By Brad Berreman

CLEMSON, SC - APRIL 14: Hunter Johnson (15) looks to throw a pass during action in the Clemson Spring Football game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Clemson, SC.. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - APRIL 14: Hunter Johnson (15) looks to throw a pass during action in the Clemson Spring Football game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Clemson, SC.. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Less than a month after announcing he’s leaving Clemson, Hunter Johnson is headed to the Big Ten.

A year fully removed from Deshaun Watson, the quarterback depth chart at Clemson added five-star 2018 recruit Trevor Lawrence to incumbent starter Kelly Bryant and 2017 top recruit Hunter Johnson. Something probably had to give, and on May 20 Johnson announced he would transfer.

Duke, Northwestern and Purdue quickly surfaced as top potential landing spots for Johnson, with the latter two being relatively close to his hometown in Indiana. Things had been pretty quiet since the calendar flipped to June, but on Monday afternoon it was announced Johnson is headed to Northwestern.

Johnson played in seven games as a freshman for Clemson last year, completing 21 of 27 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll of course have to sit out the 2018 season due to typical NCAA transfer rules, but then he’ll have three years of eligibility left.

https://twitter.com/NUFBFamily/status/1006253051533983746

The Wildcats have a three-year starter at quarterback right now in Clayton Thorson. But he also suffered a torn right ACL in the Music City Bowl against Kentucky on Dec. 29, and being ready for the Aug. 30 season opener against Purdue will be a tough ask.

Johnson is the best recruit Pat Fitzgerald has landed, now going into his 13th season as Northwestern head coach. As expected, the quintessential “Northwestern man” is thrilled about the addition.

"We are ecstatic to add a player of Hunter’s caliber and character to our program,” said Fitzgerald in a released statement. “He comes from an outstanding family, one we’ve had the opportunity to know for many years, and he will fit right in to the culture we continue to build here in Evanston. I’m excited for the opportunity to be his coach and look forward to him joining our football family on campus this month."

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As expected, things get very thin on experience under center for Northwestern if Thorson has to miss time this year. Johnson obviously can’t help that situation. But a year to adjust to a new environment, and absorb a new offense, should help foster an otherwise seamless starting quarterback transition for Fitzgerald and the Wildcats in 2019.

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