In modern college football it’s hard to know who will start at quarterback for an opponent next season after the prior season ends. No where was that more prevalent this offseason than at Vanderbilt where all three of its scholarship quarterbacks entered the transfer portal shortly after the end of the regular season.
But who Vanderbilt’s starting quarterback will be in 2024 became much clearer on Sunday night when Utah quarterback Nate Johnson committed to Vanderbilt.
@Greg_Panelli @CoachDanny10 @PeteThamel @VandyFootball @RoscoesMr pic.twitter.com/Gc5oROF7Ux
— Nate Johnson (@Shaboinate3) December 18, 2023
Johnson was a redshirt freshman last season and has three years to use his remaining three years of eligibility. A Clovis, California native, Johnson was a four-star dual threat quarterback in the 2022 recruiting cycle.
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Utah starting quarterback Cam Rising was injured and missed the entirety of the 2023 football season. Bryson Barnes started in place of Rising but the Utes deployed a two-quarterback system including Johnson sporadically throughout the year.
Johnson played in seven games for Utah last season, completing 39-of-72 passes for 499 yards and three touchdown. The dual-threat quarterback also added 235 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.
After overachieving and posting a 5-7 record in coach Clark Lea’s second season, Vanderbilt turned in a miserable 2023 season. The Commodores won their first two games, narrowly defeating Hawaii and looking unconvincing against Alabama A&M before losing their final 10 games of the season.
Vanderbilt remains on Tennessee’s 2024 schedule at its usual spot despite SEC expansion. The Vols face Vanderbilt in its regular season finale on Nov. 30 in Nashville.
