Ad Disclosure
Max Johnson plans to return to North Carolina for the 2025 season.
The former LSU and Texas A&M quarterback transferred to North Carolina this offseason, where he competed for the starting job. In UNC’s first game of the season last Thursday against Minnesota, Johnson broke his leg, ending his season.
On Friday, he told ESPN’s Pete Thamel he plans to run it back with UNC in 2025.
“These last 8 days have been a serious grind and it has taken a lot to get to other side and start the recovery process,” he told ESPN. “It will be hard to sit on the sidelines, but I have a lot of football left in me and know I will be back out there next year. In the meantime, I’ll be there every day supporting my teammates and helping out as much as I can.”
Johnson had surgery on Friday and has been recovering in Minnesota, per Thamel. Conner Harrell took over for Johnson in the 19-17 win over Minnesota and is expected to start in Johnson’s absence.
When Johnson transferred to North Carolina this offseason, he did so with 2 seasons of eligibility remaining. The 2025 season will be his sixth in college football. He’ll have a case to petition the NCAA for a seventh season as well.
Johnson began his career at LSU in 2020. He transferred to A&M ahead of the 2022 season. A season-ending injury with the Aggies that first year led to a redshirt campaign. He played in 8 games in 2023.
A 23-game starter in his career, Johnson’s best came in 2021, when he played in 12 games and threw for 2,814 yards and 27 touchdowns with 6 interceptions.
Harrell finished the Minnesota game with 2 completions on 4 attempts for 34 yards. He threw just 33 passes last season, with 27 of them coming in the team’s bowl game as a stand-in starter for Drake Maye. Now, North Carolina will find out what it has in the former 3-star quarterback.
The Tar Heels host Charlotte on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network. At the time of publication, UNC was listed as a 22.5-point favorite at ESPN Bet.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
