USF apparently wanted to make sure Tom Brady isn’t the only signal-caller added to the ranks in Tampa this year.
According to 247Sports, the Bulls landed an intriguing name in Alcorn State graduate transfer QB Noah Johnson on Thursday. The move reunites the 2018 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year with assistant coach Pat White, who used to serve as the quarterbacks coach at the FCS program prior to joining Jeff Scott’s staff at South Florida.
Johnson was apparently granted an extra year of eligibility in order to make the transfer as he was knocked out of his senior year with an injury.
The addition of the former FCS star -- he passed for over 2,200 yards and rushed for more than 1,000 in 2018 -- makes for an interesting set of names behind center for Scott’s first season whenever college football does resume. Junior Jordan McCloud figures to be the incumbent after starting 10 games last year but, with a new staff, everybody’s job is open. A pair of freshman recruits are slated to arrive in the fall while ex-North Carolina QB Cade Fortin also transferred as the team remakes their 2020 roster even without spring practice or recruiting.
USF is scheduled to open the 2020 campaign at Texas on Sept. 5 but that’s a date that obviously could be in flux due to the coronavirus pandemic. While there’s hope things will go off as originally set, whoever winds up taking the first snaps for the Bulls will be fascinating to watch in the debut of the former Clemson assistant’s new team.
