Max Johnson enjoyed reasonably productive stints at multiple SEC schools, and now, he’s transferred to North Carolina for the 2024 college football season.
Why did Johnson transfer from Texas A&M, and what is his outlook with the Tar Heels?
Why Did Max Johnson Transfer to North Carolina Ahead of His Fifth Season?
Johnson has been one of the mainstays of college football for the past five years.
A former four-star recruit and the son of storied NFL quarterback Brad Johnson, Max was one of the three quarterbacks who rotated in as a part-time starter for the LSU Tigers in 2020 after Joe Burrow was picked first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Though Johnson shared time with TJ Finley and Myles Brennan in 2020, he’d ultimately become LSU’s full-time starter in 2021 — and he had a respectable year. That season, Johnson completed 60.3% of his attempts for 2,814 yards, 27 touchdowns, and he was only intercepted six times.
That production, however, did not dissuade LSU from seeking other avenues after an up-and-down 6-6 campaign. Johnson was replaced by eventual Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, who transferred over from Arizona State. Johnson himself left to join the Texas A&M Aggies.
For two seasons, Johnson was a backup and rotational starter for the Aggies. In 2023, he replaced Conner Weigman after the latter was lost for the year due to injury. Across that 2023 campaign, Johnson won two of five starts, completing 62.1% of his attempts for 1,452 yards, nine TDs, only throwing five picks.
While the Aggies ultimately chose to roll with Weigman heading into this season, Johnson was able to leverage his experience and performance into another opportunity as a starter. This time, he’ll be playing at North Carolina, filling the role left by 2024 NFL Draft third-overall pick Drake Maye.
So why did Johnson choose North Carolina as his third and final destination? The answer, it seems, is in the question.
North Carolina has produced three NFL quarterbacks — Maye, Sam Howell, and Mitchell Trubisky — in recent years, and Maye’s production, in particular, was a top selling point.
“It’s attractive because you’ve got the last however many QBs they put in the league,” Johnson said of UNC in an interview with On3. “Drake [Maye] had an unbelievable span that he had here, Sam [Howell], Mitch Trubisky, all those guys had unbelievable college careers.”
“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 [Chip] Lindsey last year, and it’s kind of cool learning that same system Drake ran, and he put up crazy numbers.”
Johnson also mentioned that he loved the people of North Carolina when he visited, but the allure of the NFL development pipeline ultimately drew him to Chapel Hill.
What is Max Johnson’s Outlook at North Carolina?
Throughout a tumultuous collegiate career, some elements of Johnson’s development as a passer have stagnated. Accuracy is still a concern at times — an issue that flows from inconsistent mechanics. But Johnson is a left-handed signal-caller with passable physical tools, and his experience allows for a sturdy baseline of production.
Though a downgrade from Maye both from a physical and operational standpoint, he should have enough support at North Carolina to put up reasonable production. Johnson has slot receiver Nate McCollum returning, along with versatile tight ends Bryson Nesbit and John Copenhaver, and all-league running back Omarion Hampton.
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Johnson’s biggest question in North Carolina might lie along the offensive line. Aside from interior lineman Willie Lampkin, the Tar Heels have quite a few new starters, and they’ll have to navigate some uncertainty against a host of talented ACC defensive lines.
Pressure, in particular, could invite more variance in Johnson’s game — especially as he works to establish chemistry with his new weapons.
Nevertheless, Johnson’s experience could serve as a guiding light and help North Carolina stay competitive for a bowl game.
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