6. Clemson won him over.
The Tigers were 13-0 when Johnson, a high school junior, visited in December 2015. The magnificent Deshaun Watson would play one more season. Receiver Hunter Renfrow hosted Johnson.
“We went back to his house, played video games, watched a movie, ordered pizza and hung out,” Johnson recalled. “It was perfect for me to be around him and (defensive tackle) Christian Wilkins — great people. The small-town feel of Clemson is very special. I got a ton of one-on-one time with Coach Swinney and the coaches. I felt they were very genuine and real — and they are.”
7. He still loves Clemson.
Some of his best friends remain students (non-athletes) there. “It was tough leaving those guys,” he said. “I love them to death.”
Lawrence signed with Clemson on Dec. 20, 2017. He was the No. 1 prospect in his class, and he didn’t come to be an apprentice.
During the 2017 season, Johnson backed up Kelly Bryant and completed 21 of 27 passes for 234 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He posted the highest passing efficiency rating of Clemson’s three quarterbacks but also knew this: There’s only one starting quarterback.
“I saw it as both of us were too good not to at least split time,” Johnson said of him and Lawrence. “And I wanted to be somewhere I knew I’d have an opportunity to be the guy and take control. It was a sticky situation, but it’s a blessing in disguise that it got me here.”
8. He considered transferring to three schools.
Home-state Indiana and Purdue pursued, as did programs such as Ohio State. But Johnson chose Northwestern mainly because of geography (his family lives less than 3 1/2 hours away) and the coaching staff.
Although Cole played sparingly at Northwestern, he raved about Fitzgerald and Co.: “The experience is second to none. I have no critique or downers about that program. Those coaches are true to their word. It’s somewhere I’d want my kids to go.”
Or his baby brother.
“This is where I’m supposed to be,” Hunter said. “Don’t get me wrong. I miss those (Clemson) guys and love them. But I wanted to be in a spot where my family can come and watch every weekend.
“And the camaraderie within the team is unlike anything I’ve been around. Everyone in the locker room treats everyone the same. There’s no one guy who does his own thing. Everyone is a part of it, which is really, really neat.”
9. He is not yet Northwestern’s starting quarterback.
Thorson is off to the pros after he recuperates from a high ankle sprain suffered late in the Holiday Bowl. The Wildcats have five quarterbacks on the roster, but only brainy backup TJ Green has thrown a pass in a game.
“It’s a competition,” offensive coordinator Mick McCall said. “There is nothing decided.” True. Also true: Andrew Marty, Aidan Smith and Jason Whittaker might be sacrificing potential playing time at another school to earn a Northwestern degree.
10. His dad could sling it.
Reed Johnson played football and pitched at the University of Evansville. Former teammates told Cole his dad could throw it 70 yards. Reed coached his sons in football, basketball and baseball.
“He taught me to have fun with sports,” Hunter said, “but at the same time, he was great about pushing me to do those (summer passing) camps and chase after it. He would do anything for me. Sometimes we butted heads a little because we’re so similar and competitive.”
Reed has a dentistry practice in Plainfield, Ind. Cole said of his coaching style: “He was intense, not mean or crazy. He didn’t yell at all. It’s similar to (Celtics coach) Brad Stevens’ demeanor — and Hunter’s. Calm and level-headed.”
11. He received media training from his mom.
Shana Kelley (her maiden name) worked as a news anchor for WISH-Channel 8 in Indianapolis until 2006.
“She didn’t want to miss me and my brother growing up,” Hunter said. “She had a lot of late shifts, so we’d stay up all through the night for her to get home.”
12. Don’t bother trying to @ him.
Johnson has no social media presence. He quit Twitter after high school and Instagram after his first year at Clemson, saying: “I felt like I was spending time on it for no reason. I was sitting there for hours scrolling through stuff. I wasn’t one to post a lot in the first place, so that made it easier.”
He emails only for school purposes, preferring to text and FaceTime with friend s.
“We are probably the least tech-savvy family in America,” Cole said.
13. The timing is perfect for NU.
The Wildcats, who open spring practice Feb. 26, get a mature quarterback who turns 21 in March and has three seasons of eligibility.
Johnson has some playing experience, having faced four FBS opponents at Clemson, and he spent last season learning the NU system and Big Ten defenses. And Thorson’s four-year playing tenure was uninterrupted.
14. He and Thorson are “woven from the same cloth.”
That’s how Cole put it, adding: “They’re very deep in their (Christian) faith. Both are great guys, and when you meet ’em, they’re as laid-back as they can be. But both have this switch, this fierceness and intensity you see in the great ones.”
15. The NU offense will go back to the future.
Thorson rushed for nine touchdowns last season. That’s a lot. He also netted minus-110 yards. That’s a lot of backward, thanks to the NCAA including sacks in rushing stats. Thorson was a solid scrambler, especially considering he did it last year on a rebuilt right knee. But he didn’t supply the same threat as previous NU quarterbacks Dan Persa, Mike Kafka, C.J. Bacher, Brett Basanez and Zak Kustok.
“He’s got the ability to create space, whether it’s a scramble or designed run or option,” McCall said of Johnson. “We will go back to some of the stuff we did; we’ll go back in the archives to see what fits him and what kind of personnel is best.”
Johnson said he has sub-4.6 speed, and he ran on Brownsburg’s 1,600-meter relay team, making Indiana’s all-state track team.
“I’ve always been able to run a little bit,” he said. “That’s part of what makes football fun, being able to scramble around and make plays, backyard ball.”
16. He knows Drew Brees likes Chinese food.
Brees and Aaron Rodgers are Johnson’s two favorite NFL quarterbacks. So you can imagine his reaction when he spotted Brees behind him in line at a Panda Express at an airport in California.
“I said, ‘Hey, you don’t know me but I’m a quarterback and a huge fan,’ ” Johnson recalled.
They chatted about their Indiana connection — Brees played at Purdue — but Johnson did not ask for his digits: “I didn’t want to push it. I didn’t want to be that guy.”
17. His brother has faith.
“With Fromm and Tua, Hunter is the forgotten guy in that class,” Cole said.
“He is the dark knight. And I’m not sure he won’t be the highest drafted. I’m his brother. That’s my prediction.”
18. Thorson says the NU offense is in good hands.
“Hopefully we go to the natty,” he said in December with a smile.
As in national championship game.