Former Miami Hurricanes QB recruit enters transfer portal from Penn State

Penn State quarterback Michael Johnson Jr. a former Miami Hurricanes recruit has entered the transfer portal after spending the 2019 season at Penn State.

Penn State quarterback Michael Johnson Jr., the son of the Mississippi State wide receiver coach Michael Sr. has entered the transfer portal. Johnson signed with the Nittany Lions as part of their 2019 class and redshirted this past fall. Johnson was recruited by the Miami Hurricanes by former QB coach Jon Richt.

Richt is the son of former Miami head coach Mark Richt. The Hurricanes are two QB coaches past Jon Richt. Dan Enos was relieved of his duties after spending one season as the offensive coordinator and QB coach for Miami in 2019. Current head coach Manny Diaz is a constant through all three staffs.

Diaz has been on the Miami staff since 2016 as the defensive coordinator and the head coach since December 2018. Diaz hired Rhett Lashlee from SMU to replace Enos in January. Johnson was the 380th ranked player and 15th ranked dual-threat QB in 2019. Johnson received dozens of collegiate offers out of high school.

Miami was one of four schools including Penn State that Johnson visited in high school. The other two were Miami’s ACC rivals, Florida State and North Carolina State. Johnson was expected to be buried on the Penn State depth chart with Sean Clifford returning as the starter and the Nittany Lions three to four deep at QB.

Johnson was recruited at SMU when Lashlee was the offensive coordinator with the Mustangs. It is not known the level of interest that Miami would have with Johnson. Lashlee would obviously be familiar with Johnson and likely knows his father. It helps that Johnson has already visited the Miami campus.

The Hurricanes are likely searching for a QB in the 2021 Class over a young transfer. Johnson would almost definitely have to sit out the 2020 season and would have three seasons of eligibility remaining with Miami. Without a QB currently commited to the Hurricanes for 2021, Johnson is a possibility.

Miami will lose Houston graduate transfer, D’Eriq King, after the 2020 season. Tate Martell and N’Kosi Perry will be redshirt seniors in 2021, Peyton Matocha a redshirt sophomore and 2020 true freshman Tyler VanDyke is expected to redshirt this fall. Signing a QB with eligibility in 2022 is critical for Miami.