5 things to know about Clemson football backup quarterback Hunter Johnson

Here are five things you may not know about Clemson quarterback Hunter Johnson, who’s expected to be the backup to starter Cade Klubnik in the Orange Bowl.

The decision by former starter DJ Uiagalelei to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 5 has elevated Johnson on the Tigers’ depth chart.

Johnson saw his most extensive playing time of the season in the ACC Championship Game victory against North Carolina, completing all five of his passing attempts for nine yards.

Clemson (11-2) will face Tennessee (10-2) in the Orange Bowl, which is set for Dec. 30 (8 p.m., ESPN) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

OUTWARD BOUND:Clemson football QB DJ Uiagalelei on why he entered the transfer portal

EARLY DEPARTURES:Clemson football transfer tracker: Who's leaving Tigers through portal

GLIMPSE OF FUTURE:Clemson's Cade Klubnik vs UNC's Drake Maye is the future of ACC football

Johnson was Swinney’s first ‘transfer portal dude’

After playing his freshman season at Clemson, Johnson transferred to Northwestern, where he had to sit out a year before playing the next three seasons with the Wildcats.

Hoping to return to Clemson in 2022 as a graduate assistant on coach Dabo Swinney’s staff , Johnson instead discovered he had another year of eligibility and promptly became the Tigers' first newcomer in the transfer portal era.

“He’s our first transfer portal dude, and that’s perfect,” said school president Jim Clements, who befriended Johnson during his first visit to Clemson.

Johnson initially committed to play at Tennessee

Ranked by ESPN as the nation’s No. 1 quarterback prospect in the 2017 class, Johnson initially committed to Butch Jones and Tennessee in August of 2015, but switched allegiances after visiting Clemson in December of that year.

He was named Mr. Football in the state of Indiana in 2016 and was Most Valuable Player in the US Army All-American Game after passing for a pair of touchdowns in that all-star contest.

He finished his high school career at Brownsburg High with program records in passing yards (6,657) and touchdown passes (69).

“He throws about as perfect a football as you’ll ever see,” said John Hart, his coach at Brownsburg.

Football runs in the Johnson family

After a standout career at Bedford North Lawrence High School in Bedford, Indiana, Johnson’s father, Reed, played football and baseball as a quarterback and pitcher, respectively, at Evansville.

Johnson’s older brother, Cole, was a preferred walk-on wide receiver and special teams player at Northwestern from 2013-16, and Reed coached both of his sons in their younger years in football, baseball and basketball.

Johnson’s mother, Shana, is a former news anchor and reporter for WISH-TV in Indianapolis.

Johnson patterned his game after Peyton Manning

Johnson grew up admiring and emulating Peyton Manning, the NFL Hall of Fame quarterback who starred collegiately at Tennessee.

“I was always a big fan of his game,” Johnson said.

Johnson even attended the Manning Passing Academy camps in Thibodaux, Louisiana, on multiple occasions.

Johnson has made a habit of shining off the field, too

Johnson earned an undergraduate degree in communications as well as a master’s in sports administration at Northwestern, where he also received Academic All-Big Ten honors.

Johnson is currently working toward his MBA at Clemson – and imparting much wisdom to the Tigers’ younger players.

“He’s got the knowledge of a coach,” Swinney said. “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.”

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: 5 things to know about Clemson football backup QB Hunter Johnson