Ex-Clemson QB Hunter Johnson returns as first player from transfer portal

Clemson football finally has its first player from the transfer portal.

And it’s somebody who transferred out.

Former Tigers quarterback Hunter Johnson will return as a graduate student, it was confirmed after first reported by 247Sports. He played one year at Clemson and three at Northwestern after sitting out a season in betweeper NCAA rules at the time.

Clemson lost 11 players to the transfer portal during the 2021-22 season but has never signed one.

Johnson would serve as a veteran backup to D.J. Uiagalelei, who had a disappointing season. The Tigers expect freshman Cade Klubnik, a five-star talent and No. 1 quarterback recruit in the country, to challenge for the starting job. They also promoted walk-ons Hunter Helms and Billy Wiles with scholarships after backup Taisun Phommachanh left after the regular season.

Johnson played in seven games for Clemson in 2017, completing 21 of 27 passes as the backup to Kelly Bryant. When Trevor Lawrence arrived on campus, Johnson transferred out and Bryant would later do the same. Johnson played in nine games in three years at Northwestern but just three in the past two seasons. He was voted team captain and started the 2021 opener.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Ex-Clemson QB Hunter Johnson returns as its first from transfer portal