Washington quarterback Alex Johnson re-enters NCAA transfer portal

Washington quarterback Alex Johnson has had second thoughts about withdrawing from the NCAA transfer portal, putting his name back into the transfer portal on Tuesday, On3 has learned.

That news comes just two days after Johnson withdrew from the portal.

Johnson has obviously had plenty to think about in recent weeks, with the turnover in coaching at Washington and the subsequent musical chairs act a handful of quarterbacks have engaged in complicating matters.

A senior quarterback, Johnson enrolled at Washington in 2023 after spending the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Santa Barbara City College. He did not record any statistics in 2023.

Johnson is one of a handful of quarterbacks that has at least considered a move following the coaching changes at Washington.

The cycle started when Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer departed for the Alabama job when Nick Saban retired. After DeBoer landed at Alabama, Washington quarterback Austin Mack followed him via the transfer portal, stacking some more talent on the Crimson Tide roster.

That left a potential opening for quarterbacks at Washington.

Prior to DeBoer’s departure, the program had landed a commitment from veteran Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers, who figured to be the heir apparent to Michael Penix Jr. But Rogers entered the NCAA transfer portal and poked around at a second destination before he ultimately decided to withdraw his name and remain in Washington.

That likely closed the door on the potential addition of Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita, who might have followed coach Jedd Fisch to Washington otherwise. Though Fifita didn’t follow Fisch, 2024 signee Demond Williams Jr. did, helping shore up the Washington depth chart.

That extra level of competition was apparently enough for Alex Johnson to think twice about things and re-enter the transfer portal looking for a new opportunity.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.