What Hunter Johnson Could Potentially Bring to the IU QB Room

Hunter Johnson would be a massive addition to the Hoosiers

Written By Richard Lagow

By now everyone has heard that Hunter Johnson, the former 5-star and top five recruit in the nation, who found his way to Clemson University where he played limited snaps in 2017 as a true freshman has announced he will leave the university, with Indiana being one of his options. As a true freshman in 2017 Johnson appeared in seven games for Clemson. The highly touted freshman threw for 234 yards while going 21-27. Although a limited sample, still an impressive stat line for a true freshman.

At 6’2”, 210 pounds, Johnson shares a similar (almost exact) stature to current IU QB Peyton Ramsey. Johnson is listed as a pocket passer by ESPN and Rivals, but his high school tape shows he is more the capable of creating plays with feet. Johnson has an above average arm and, while he might not have breakaway speed, seems to be more than fit to make plays in the style of offense Tom Allen envisions for the future.

Still a young player, Johnson has three more years of eligibility after he sits out the 2018 season per NCAA transfer rules. His potential addition to the quarterback room would be a huge get for the Hoosiers, who currently have one of the smaller quarterback rooms in the country with only three scholarship quarterbacks (Peyton Ramsey, Michael Penix Jr., and graduate transfer Brandon Dawkins).

With Johnson having to sit out this year due to transferring, he would have a full year with quarterback coach Nick Sheridan, who in my opinion is one of the best in the business, to master the Indiana offense while also further maturing in weight room and asserting himself as a leader for the future. The addition of Hunter Johnson could make the IUFB quarterback room one of the more talented rooms in the Big Ten, with a very bright future. 

While Hoosier Nation is on pins and needles waiting on Johnson's announcement, one can dream of a quarterback room that features the former Brownsburg standout. No decision date has been announced as of the publishing of this article.

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