Hunter Johnson - What Happened?

[boileralum07]

Currently buying tickets for the game in Wrigley...woooot! And I thought about the Hunter Johnson Transfer Saga.

As I remember it, Brohm really wanted Brandon Peters and Hunter Johnson to transfer and missed out on both. We ended up starting 4th string walkon QB O'Connell. Aidan has been doing really well recently.

Question is.... what happened to Hunter? Super talented, very highly recruited, but 3rd string at NU? Was he a bust? Or did NU ruin him?

 

[nickcat4]

NU ruined him NO offensive line to protect him

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

Bigtime bust.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

Currently buying tickets for the game in Wrigley...woooot! And I thought about the Hunter Johnson Transfer Saga.

As I remember it, Brohm really wanted Brandon Peters and Hunter Johnson to transfer and missed out on both. We ended up starting 4th string walkon QB O'Connell. Aidan has been doing really well recently.

Question is.... what happened to Hunter? Super talented, very highly recruited, but 3rd string at NU? Was he a bust? Or did NU ruin him?

Consistently shat the bed when the lights came on, got pulled from the Duke game after he couldn’t stop turning the ball over. Still the most physically talented QB we’ve had on campus, couldn’t put it together.

 

[NUCat320]

He threw a beautiful ball when given the chance. Accurate downfield in a way that NU has never had.

But he had happy happy feet, and was bailing out on every single throw. If NU had a decent OL, he’d be all conference and he’d be getting drafted. He really didn’t like being hit, and he shied away from it even before the pocket collapsed.

I would be totally unsurprised if he still hooks on to an NFL practice squad, if he wants it.

And, his experience will make recruiting the QB position even tougher at NU.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Currently buying tickets for the game in Wrigley...woooot! And I thought about the Hunter Johnson Transfer Saga.

As I remember it, Brohm really wanted Brandon Peters and Hunter Johnson to transfer and missed out on both. We ended up starting 4th string walkon QB O'Connell. Aidan has been doing really well recently.

Question is.... what happened to Hunter? Super talented, very highly recruited, but 3rd string at NU? Was he a bust? Or did NU ruin him?

He busted. I think the game is too fast for him still. It happens.

O’Connell looked great against MSU. PU is fun to watch. Congrats on being giant killers this year. We are not so large.

 

[boileralum07]

He busted. I think the game is too fast for him still. It happens.

O’Connell looked great against MSU. PU is fun to watch. Congrats on being giant killers this year. We are not so large.

Thanks! This has been a great season so far. But I would trade it in for the last decade of NU football lol.

I really wanted him at Purdue and believed he would have been great under Brohm. But we all know he wouldn't have had a good OL here either so there is no guarantee. It just made me think today what Good Hunter would have done with our offense, as is it currently performs under O'Connell.

Good luck vs Wisconsin. We did not fare so well hahaha.

 

[IndyNDBJJ]

A year (or two) ago I told this very board that Hunter was not anywhere as good as his ranking coming out & nobody locally thought he would hack it at Clemson. And he would even struggle at Northwestern play B1G football.
This board roasted me & told me I was clueless & blah, blah, blah.
Go back & read my posts about what the criticisms were with Hunter & compare those to what you have now seen in person.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

A year (or two) ago I told this very board that Hunter was not anywhere as good as his ranking coming out & nobody locally thought he would hack it at Clemson. And he would even struggle at Northwestern play B1G football.
This board roasted me & told me I was clueless & blah, blah, blah.
Go back & read my posts about what the criticisms were with Hunter & compare those to what you have now seen in person.

Read the room before you take your “victory lap.”

 

[StreamCat]

A year (or two) ago I told this very board that Hunter was not anywhere as good as his ranking coming out & nobody locally thought he would hack it at Clemson. And he would even struggle at Northwestern play B1G football.
This board roasted me & told me I was clueless & blah, blah, blah.
Go back & read my posts about what the criticisms were with Hunter & compare those to what you have now seen in person.

Oh, geez. Another post boasting “I was right! I was right! Nyah Nyah.” Let it go. People say stuff and then people say other stuff.

 

[SIBoiler2]

Read the room before you take your “victory lap.”

I see y'all get the gift of NDFartly's immense FB knowledge as well.

 

[Hungry Jack]

A year (or two) ago I told this very board that Hunter was not anywhere as good as his ranking coming out & nobody locally thought he would hack it at Clemson. And he would even struggle at Northwestern play B1G football.
This board roasted me & told me I was clueless & blah, blah, blah.
Go back & read my posts about what the criticisms were with Hunter & compare those to what you have now seen in person.

No. Go read them yourself and write a report, and have it on my desk by 9.

 

[TC4THREE]

He threw a beautiful ball when given the chance. Accurate downfield in a way that NU has never had.

But he had happy happy feet, and was bailing out on every single throw. If NU had a decent OL, he’d be all conference and he’d be getting drafted. He really didn’t like being hit, and he shied away from it even before the pocket collapsed.

I would be totally unsurprised if he still hooks on to an NFL practice squad, if he wants it.

And, his experience will make recruiting the QB position even tougher at NU.

Sounds like Curtis Painter.

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

A year (or two) ago I told this very board that Hunter was not anywhere as good as his ranking coming out & nobody locally thought he would hack it at Clemson. And he would even struggle at Northwestern play B1G football.
This board roasted me & told me I was clueless & blah, blah, blah.
Go back & read my posts about what the criticisms were with Hunter & compare those to what you have now seen in person.

wow, you were right and we were wrong. Congratulations and send me your phone #, I will Venmo you some money.

 

[boileralum07]

Sounds like Curtis Painter.

Painter was drafted and even played in the NFL.

Johnson will not.


How sad is that?

 

[TC4THREE]

Painter was drafted and even played in the NFL.

Johnson will not.


How sad is that?

I can't say I've watched Hunter Johnson much, if at all. Just the description of him as a physically gifted quarterback who could make all the throws but wilted under the slightest bit of pressure reminded me of Curtis Painter. He put up Heisman numbers against our D2, MAC, and bottom of the Big Ten opposition but struggled to do much against the decent teams on the schedule. The difference being that we could provide him perfect protection against the bad teams but the teams with a pulse at least required him to move in the pocket frequently which rendered him totally useless.

He had his cup of coffee in the NFL because I'm sure he looked great in workouts but he was a disaster there too when he did get an opportunity.

It sounds like HJ may be similar in that he can make all the throws and looks great when there is no defense on the field.

 

[NREPP Fraud]

Currently buying tickets for the game in Wrigley...woooot! And I thought about the Hunter Johnson Transfer Saga.

As I remember it, Brohm really wanted Brandon Peters and Hunter Johnson to transfer and missed out on both. We ended up starting 4th string walkon QB O'Connell. Aidan has been doing really well recently.

Question is.... what happened to Hunter? Super talented, very highly recruited, but 3rd string at NU? Was he a bust? Or did NU ruin him?

He is a good qb! Just too old to develop! He played great against MSU but collapsed soon after in Duke game!

 

[NREPP Fraud]

Thanks! This has been a great season so far. But I would trade it in for the last decade of NU football lol.

I really wanted him at Purdue and believed he would have been great under Brohm. But we all know he wouldn't have had a good OL here either so there is no guarantee. It just made me think today what Good Hunter would have done with our offense, as is it currently performs under O'Connell.

Good luck vs Wisconsin. We did not fare so well hahaha.

Our blocking ain’t too bad but we don’t have a running game!

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

I can't say I've watched Hunter Johnson much, if at all. Just the description of him as a physically gifted quarterback who could make all the throws but wilted under the slightest bit of pressure reminded me of Curtis Painter. He put up Heisman numbers against our D2, MAC, and bottom of the Big Ten opposition but struggled to do much against the decent teams on the schedule. The difference being that we could provide him perfect protection against the bad teams but the teams with a pulse at least required him to move in the pocket frequently which rendered him totally useless.

He had his cup of coffee in the NFL because I'm sure he looked great in workouts but he was a disaster there too when he did get an opportunity.

It sounds like HJ may be similar in that he can make all the throws and looks great when there is no defense on the field.

We have Purdue people on our board arguing about how bad a former Purdue QB was. Interesting week.

But - we gotta take these beatings and 'embrace the suck'. We are a terrible team with no end in sight. And I'm tired of hoping we win the portal QB lottery, because our record is 1 of 3 so far.

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

And I'm tired of hoping we win the portal QB lottery, because our record is 1 of 3 so far.

Hilinski isn't an outright bust yet.

 

[usopen30]

Hilinski isn't an outright bust yet.

Was thinking that if we had an OL like Wisconsin, RH could be a very QB for the Cats, but we also need receivers who can get separation (Robinson can, but we need others) and a reliable tight end like Vitale or Raine. On a few 3rd and longs Mertz had all day to throw and hit his tight end with a defender draped over him. A lot of missing pieces in Evanston that may or may not be rectified in the next couple of years.

 

[usopen30]

Sorry for the typo--RH could be a very good QB

 

[boileralum07]

We have Purdue people on our board arguing about how bad a former Purdue QB was. Interesting week.

But - we gotta take these beatings and 'embrace the suck'. We are a terrible team with no end in sight. And I'm tired of hoping we win the portal QB lottery, because our record is 1 of 3 so far.

I actually am a Painter fan. We were just comparing Painter to Johnson and discussing how a QB with size, a strong arm, and who throws a pretty ball can be a productive B1G QB, even if he has happy feet behind a sub par OL.

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

Hilinski isn't an outright bust yet.

That's true, he has some upside, and as @usopen30 said, if we had a functional OL, he might do very well. But - if wishes were horses, then rides would be free. He, and HuJo, for that matter, might be really with a dominant OL, although, at some level of competition, your OL can only do so much for you. Picture either of them with a Wisconsin OL but facing Georgia.

So - we, as a program, can accept that we have a limited ability to put together such a line, and recruit only mobile QBs (HuJo isn't, despite what they said), or be sure we succeed with this OL plan. Otherwise, wow.

 

[lou v]

Sounds like Curtis Painter.

Curtis Painter? Not even close. You’re comparing apples and rhinos. Painter is the No. 2 passer in Big Ten history. Johnson isn’t the No. 2 QB on NU’s depth chart.

These are their career numbers. There’s no comparison.

Painter: 11,173 yds, 67 TD 46 INT
Johnson: 1,090 yds, 7 TD, 9 INT

 

[boileralum07]

Curtis Painter? Not even close. You’re comparing apples and rhinos. Painter is the No. 2 passer in Big Ten history. Johnson isn’t the No. 2 QB on NU’s depth chart.

These are their career numbers. There’s no comparison.

Painter: 11,173 yds, 67 TD 46 INT
Johnson: 1,090 yds, 7 TD, 9 INT

We weren't comparing career numbers. We were comparing body type, play style and characteristics. Namely, that both Johnson had happy feet and couldn't handle pressure behind a bad OL. Well Painter was the same and had a bad line blocking for him too.

Tiller once said Painter played "more nervous than a fart in skillet" i.e. he got happy feet and couldn't face a rush against good teams.

But one was a productive B1G QB and the other threw for 66yds vs Indiana State. It's hard not to wonder what Johnson would have turned out at Purdue under Brohm. Would he be like NW HuJo, or more like Painter?

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

We weren't comparing career numbers. We were comparing body type, play style and characteristics. Namely, that both Johnson had happy feet and couldn't handle pressure behind a bad OL. Well Painter was the same and had a bad line blocking for him too.

Tiller once said Painter played "more nervous than a fart in skillet" i.e. he got happy feet and couldn't face a rush against good teams.

But one was a productive B1G QB and the other threw for 66yds vs Indiana State. It's hard not to wonder what Johnson would have turned out at Purdue under Brohm. Would he be like NW HuJo, or more like Painter?

Well, one difference is that, although he was not actively involved, HuJo was part of a team that won 2 divisional titles.

 

[boileralum07]

Well, one difference is that, although he was not actively involved, HuJo was part of a team that won 2 divisional titles.

Oh how I wish Purdue would sniff a title, maybe if Wisconsin and Iowa lose out, and IU beats Minny. But alas, it's unlikely. Fitz is a great coach... too many complaining about him here tbh.

But HuJo could have sat the bench at Clemson and won them there too. He transferred for playing time. Unfortunately didn't work out at NU. I still wonder how he would have done at Purdue, and that fair right? We'll never know.

 

[lou v]

We weren't comparing career numbers. We were comparing body type, play style and characteristics. Namely, that both Johnson had happy feet and couldn't handle pressure behind a bad OL. Well Painter was the same and had a bad line blocking for him too.

Tiller once said Painter played "more nervous than a fart in skillet" i.e. he got happy feet and couldn't face a rush against good teams.

But one was a productive B1G QB and the other threw for 66yds vs Indiana State. It's hard not to wonder what Johnson would have turned out at Purdue under Brohm. Would he be like NW HuJo, or more like Painter?

I get that. But if Painter had happy feet and couldn’t handle pressure, how did he throw for more yards than all but one QB in Big Ten history? Johnson’s problems essentially destroyed his career. I don’t think Painter’s issues were anywhere close to that.

 

[boileralum07]

I get that. But if Painter had happy feet and couldn’t handle pressure, how did he throw for more yards than all but one QB in Big Ten history? Johnson’s problems essentially destroyed his career. I don’t think Painter’s issues were anywhere close to that.

First and foremost, it's the offensive system. Tiller (and Brohm) have a wide open, QB friendly system, predicated on a rhythm based quick passing game to minimize poor line play. Read the defense, snap, quick pass. OSU had the most sacks in the nation, but never touched O'Connell once. Tiller had Painter threw a lot of bubble screens and 5 yard outs.

NU QBs by contrast have to wait too long for the WR routs to develop. NU used to have a wide open high powered offense too, with that Super Back position that let your QB make those quick passes. I know those killed Purdue. But then NU fired McCall and went to Bajakian and his conservative, run based system from Boston College. In your current system, routes take way too long to develop and the QB stares down the receivers, and the defense reads the eyes and gets the takeaway. Its what got Addazzio fired at BC and freed up Bajakian.

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

First and foremost, it's the offensive system. Tiller (and Brohm) have a wide open, QB friendly system, predicated on a rhythm based quick passing game to minimize poor line play. Read the defense, snap, quick pass. OSU had the most sacks in the nation, but never touched O'Connell once. Tiller had Painter threw a lot of bubble screens and 5 yard outs.

NU QBs by contrast have to wait too long for the WR routs to develop. NU used to have a wide open high powered offense too, with that Super Back position that let your QB make those quick passes. I know those killed Purdue. But then NU fired McCall and went to Bajakian and his conservative, run based system from Boston College. In your current system, routes take way too long to develop and the QB stares down the receivers, and the defense reads the eyes and gets the takeaway. Its what got Addazzio fired at BC and freed up Bajakian.

I'm so happy we are playing a national power this week, so they we can bestow upon us all of this football excellence that has been flowing out of West Lafayette over the past 30 years.

 

[boileralum07]

I'm so happy we are playing a national power this week, so they we can bestow upon us all of this football excellence that has been flowing out of West Lafayette over the past 30 years.

Ooooo the snark is strong in this one.

You've got a great program. A great HC.

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

NU ruined him NO offensive line to protect him

No. His offensive line was better than CJs and Persa. He simply never had it in him to step up and be fearless. Marty has alot less talent but is tough as nails and far better than Hunter. This isnt High School anymore.