Advertisement

Why Dabo Swinney asked Hunter Johnson to help Clemson football quarterback room, delay coaching career

Todd Shanesy, Greenville News
·3 min read
2

CLEMSON – Hunter Johnson is the accidental quarterback.

He thought he would transfer back to Clemson as a graduate assistant for the football team while getting a second master’s degree. Instead, he was offered by coach Dabo Swinney the position of backup to starter D.J. Uiagalelei and freshman Cade Klubnik.

“Just curious,” Swinney said to Johnson. “Do you have a sixth year left?”

Uiagalelei and Klubnik are not the only former five-star recruits in the QB room. Johnson was the No. 1 quarterback in the country, according to ESPN. Sure, that was back in 2016. He played one season at Clemson and then found some success in four years at Northwestern.

The coaching thing is on hold. Johnson is still a quarterback.

“He’s learned the offense. He’s making plays,” Clemson offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter said. “He throws as good of a ball as I’ve seen.”

“He’s taking advantage of his reps,” Swinney said. “He’s super-talented.”

Johnson, seeing limited action behind Kelly Bryant in 2017 (with Trevor Lawrence on his way), completed 21 of 27 passes for 234 yards with two touchdowns. In his first five games, he was 18-for-20. He threw a perfect deep pass to Tee Higgins for a 78-yard TD. Johnson never expected an encore.

More Clemson football

“It just didn’t come to mind that (Clemson) could potentially need another quarterback,” Johnson said. “... I’ve seen a lot of ball. It doesn’t really matter what we’re doing. I think I can kind of plug and play and do what they need me to do.”

Part of what they need him to do is to help mold Uiagalelei and Klubnik.

“Hunter Johnson has been a great addition to our quarterback room for a lot of reasons,” said Streeter, who recruited Johnson six years ago. “His maturity, his experience factor, just being able to mentor our guys. … His role is a such a big part of this year.”

“It’s valuable to have his voice,” Swinney said. “And his arm and his legs.”

“He’s been a great presence,” Uiagalelei said. “One thing that can make him a great coach is he does a really good job with relationships. He’s only been here for a little while, but the relationships he’s made with his teammates has earned a lot of respect.”

Johnson started Northwestern’s opener last season against Michigan State and threw for 283 yards (30-for-43) with three touchdowns. He couldn't keep that going, however. In three years at Northwestern, he passed for 856 yards with five touchdowns and eight interceptions.

But this is bonus time for Johnson and a different role.

“He’s concentrating on being a player, but he’s got those (coaching) characteristics," Swinney said. "I mean, he’s just a nurturing guy. He loves to help and he watches everything, pays attention, and he’s got the knowledge of a coach.

“... He’s just soaking it up, man. I think he’s living his best life right now. He loves Clemson and being back here with a completely different experience. … He’s having fun. I think he’s kind of found his joy again.”

Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY Network.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football: Dabo Swinney asks Hunter Johnson to help QB room