Max Johnson details friendship, competition with Conner Harrell

North Carolina quarterbacks Max Johnson and Conner Harrell are truly in a friendly competition this offseason. Johnson was brought in as a transfer from Texas A&M to contend with Harrell for the starting job after Drake Maye left for the NFL.

Although the two didn’t know each other prior, Johnson explained that they have grown close since he arrived in Chapel Hill. Not only has he shared advice with Harrell on the field, but the pair have also made an effort to get to know each other off it as well.

“We’re competing, but at the same time, we’re on the same team,” Johnson said. “I have a really good friendship with him. We go out and play golf. I’ve played with him three or four times. We eat at lunch almost every day with each other. Talk before meetings, talk after meetings.

“I’ve enjoyed kind of coming back after a play and going, ‘hey, what’d you see here?’ I tell him what I see and I think we’re just continuing to bounce ideas off each other.”

Johnson brings four years of college experience with him to the Tar Heels and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. He was a starter both at LSU, where he started his career, and this past season with the Aggies.

After starting two games as a true freshman, he took over as the full-time starter at for the Tigers in 2021. He had his best season yet to throw for 2,815 yards, 27 touchdowns and six interceptions. Johnson transferred to A&M following that year after the Tigers parted ways with coach Ed Orgeron.

He unfortunately suffered an injury that limited him to only four games in 2022. He began this past season as a backup but would go on to start five games after Conner Weigman suffered an injury. Johnson finished with 1,452 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions.

That experience has been valuable for a player like Harrell to learn from. He is set to enter his third season in Chapel Hill after backing up Maye for the past two years. The young QB made his first start in UNC’s bowl game this past season to finish 20-of-33 passing for 270 yards and two touchdowns in addition to 75 yards rushing and another TD on the ground.

As both Max Johnson and Conner Harrell look to stake their claim to the starting job, they’ll continue to learn from one another and grow their friendship.