Coming and going
After beating Aggies, ex-LSU QB joins them
COLLEGE STATION — Apparently you can beat ’em and join ’em, too.
Former LSU quarterback Max Johnson announced Friday morning that he’s transferring to Texas A&M. Johnson was the starting quarterback in LSU’s 27-24 victory over A&M on Nov. 27 in Baton Rouge, La., to wrap up the regular season.
Johnson, who’ll have three years of eligibility, also is the older brother of touted tight end Jake Johnson, who signed with the Aggies on Wednesday as part of their top-ranked recruiting class.
A&M needed another quarterback after the pending transfer of starter Zach Calzada, and Max Johnson fits the bill. He will compete with Haynes King, A&M’s openinggame starter who broke his tibia in Week 2, and incoming five-star freshman Conner Weigman for the Aggies’ starting job. Max Johnson exits LSU after the firing of coach Ed Orgeron and the hiring of Brian Kelly from Notre Dame.
Jake Johnson chose A&M over LSU, Clemson and Florida, among others. Jake and Max are sons of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson, who played at Florida State and won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers nearly two decades ago. A&M coach Jimbo Fisher is a former FSU coach, although he did not coach Brad Johnson with the Seminoles.
Max Johnson (6-5, 220), who grew up in Georgia, wraps up his LSU career with 3,884 passing yards, including 35 touchdown passes to go with seven interceptions. He threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Aggies on Thanksgiving weekend, including a game-winning 28-yard touchdown pass to Jaray Jenkins along the right sideline with 20 seconds left.
Brad Johnson, 53, led the Buccaneers to a victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII at the end of the 2002 season.