re: Max Johnson is one of The Athletic's notable players in their 7th year

That play's biggest mistake was missing Trey Palmer who beat his man and Max didn't anticipate it. Most people harp on the behind the back part of it and not the actual reason it was a bad play which was not throwing to the corner of the endzone where Palmer would have been the first guy to the spot for a potential TD. But after missing that read, the behind the back throw resulted in an incompletion instead of the sack he was about to take. It resulted in 4th & 2 instead of 4th & 10, I think that play gets overblown because of how disappointing the season was, missed reads happen all the time. I get it was ugly optically but that whole game and really the season was a team failure.

He had some good moments here like the Florida upset in 2020 and his final pass as an LSU QB was probably his best, that TD pass to Jaray Jenkins to beat A&M. I guess I'll take the good memories and wish him well, I don't think pro ball is in his future and as far as I know he hasn't talked shite about his time at LSU so I don't harbor any ill will towards the guy.

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7 years is just ridiculous

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The free COVID year will always be stupid to me but with how bad injuries derailed his career I’m ok with it. He is not an example of the NCAA extending eligibility for nonsense

2020 LSU - Free COVID year, started last 2 games

2021 LSU - Year 1, started full season

2022 A&M - Normal redshirt after broken hand in 3rd start

2023 A&M - Year 2, ended early after broken ribs in 5th start

2024 UNC - Medical redshirt after breaking his fricking FEMUR in week 1. After 5 surgeries it was a legit question if they might need to amputate his leg

2025 UNC - Year 3, 1 start as the backup after losing the starting QB battle (only cleared just in time for August camp after sidelined a full year)

2026 GSU - Year 4, frick it, hopefully his body survives