Max Johnson Named Starting Quarterback at Georgia Southern, His Fourth College Program

Veteran American college football player Max Johnson has been named the starting quarterback for the Georgia Southern Eagles, marking the fourth separate university program where he has achieved the primary starting role on the team depth chart. The decision was officially announced on Sunday by Georgia Southern head coach Clay Helton, who selected the 25-year-old quarterback to direct the team’s offense for the upcoming season.

Johnson’s selection as the starting quarterback, a position commonly designated as QB1, extends a notable multi-year career across major college athletic programs. The upcoming season will represent Johnson’s seventh year competing at the college football level. Before arriving at Georgia Southern, he had already served as the starting quarterback for three distinct university teams: Louisiana State University, Texas A&M University, and the University of North Carolina.

Johnson’s progression through university football has involved several program transfers across a span of five years. His collegiate career began in 2020 when he joined Louisiana State University. He remained with that program until 2022, when he made his first transfer to Texas A&M University. After competing for Texas A&M, Johnson transferred for a second time in 2024 to join the University of North Carolina.

His single season at North Carolina in 2024 was cut short by a severe physical injury when Johnson suffered a broken femur. The traumatic leg injury proved complex, requiring him to undergo five separate surgical operations to repair the bone and regain functional mobility. Following his recovery from those five surgeries, Johnson entered the transfer process once again, ultimately choosing to join coach Helton’s roster at Georgia Southern.

Over the course of his six previous seasons in college football, Johnson has accumulated significant experience in major matches. Across his stints with Louisiana State University, Texas A&M University, and the University of North Carolina, he has made 35 overall game appearances and recorded 24 starting assignments. In those contests, he has passed for a total of 6,355 yards and registered 49 passing touchdowns.

Georgia Southern, which competes in the Sun Belt Conference, is preparing for the start of its non-conference and conference schedule. The Eagles are scheduled to begin their upcoming season on September 5 with a home game against Charleston Southern. Following their season opener, Johnson and his team will travel for a road matchup on September 12 to face Clemson University.

Background

In American college athletics, student-athletes typically compete over four years within a five-year window. However, players can obtain additional seasons of eligibility through medical waivers following severe injuries or special national administrative decisions. Quarterbacks serve as the primary passer and offensive leader on the field, with the designation “QB1” indicating the first-choice starter at the top of a program’s depth chart.

University football programs in the United States are grouped into distinct regional conferences under the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Players frequently utilize transfer rules to relocate from one university to another to pursue playing time or new competitive opportunities.