Dabo Swinney on the return of Hunter Johnson to Clemson, his future

Clemson quarterback Hunter Johnson returned to the team this season as a graduate-transfer. Johnson signed with the Tigers out of high school and played 76 snaps for them his freshman year in 2017 before transferring to Northwestern, where he’s spent the last four seasons prior to his return. Head coach Dabo Swinney spoke about his crucial contribution to this year’s quarterback room during fall camp.

“Great leadership, just wants to coach and he’s just soaking it up. I think he’s living his best life right now, he loves Clemson and being back here with a completely different experience and perspective, life brings perspective when you get older and he’s engaged and he’s just very self aware, very knowledgeable and so confident. I mean look at him out here, he’s out here working with Cade and these guys,” Swinney said as he pointed at Johnson getting some extra work in after practice Wednesday with the quarterbacks. “He gets it on every level, he’s experienced just about everything at that position, so he’s having fun. I think he’s just having fun and he’s taking advantage of his reps, he’s super talented and I think he’s kind of found his joy again.”

Johnson was the No. 2 quarterback in the nation coming out of high school according to On3 Consensus and wants to be a coach in the near future, but Swinney made it clear that Johnson’s number one responsibility to the team at the moment is as a player.

“No he’s concentrating on being a player, but’s got the those characteristics. He’s just a nurturing guy, he loves to help and watches everything, pays attention and he’s got the knowledge of a coach,” Swinney said.

Swinney elaborated on Johnson and the overall positive atmosphere in the quarterback room, as well as the overall talent they have across the board.

“It’s valuable to have his voice and his arm and his feet, because as we all know that position is critical and we’re really really blessed, I mean really fortunate, to have the guys that we have. Because I really think they can all play, obviously those three guys, but dad-gum Billy ‘Dimes‘ can play and Hunter Helms is smart as crap, knows every detail of everything, is an accurate thrower. All of them can go play, and I’m super excited to have Trent joining them so it’s just a really really good, functional room. And we have not had that type of functionality, we’ve kind of had to create it here and there but it makes a big difference,” Swinney said.