WOW. JD Johnson is UNretiring . . . and transferring
As you may recall, Johnson was the class of '20 QB until he was forced to medically retire. Michigan honored his scholarship anyway, and he's been a part of the program the past two years.
Well, he apparently got a new medical opinion and has been cleared to played. For whatever reason, though, he'll be doing that elsewhere.
Best of luck to this young man!
December 10th, 2021 at 6:10 PM ^
Good for him. I hope he does well wherever he goes.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:11 PM ^
Hell yeah! Great news to hear that the kid can keep playing football!
December 10th, 2021 at 6:11 PM ^
There may be some issue of them having given him a medical scholarship that didn't go against the count. You can't use medical scholarship's as a holding pen.*
December 10th, 2021 at 6:37 PM ^
I don't think that will be an issue for Michigan. If you go on a medical scholarship, you can't play at that institution. So MICHIGAN can't use it as a holding pen, but he can go elsewhere without issue. That's my understanding, at least.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:47 PM ^
Agree. That's what I meant. Was responding too OP's "For whatever reason, though, he'll be doing that elsewhere."
December 10th, 2021 at 6:38 PM ^
Have you heard this somewhere? Or are you just postulating? Or making something up?
He's not playing at UM. They didn't use his scholarship as a holding pen.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:51 PM ^
He’s clearly talking to the OP, the OP made it sound like a surprise Michigan let him stay but now wants to play somewhere else. This guy is saying you can’t use a medical as a holding pen that’s why he can’t play at Michigan
December 10th, 2021 at 7:12 PM ^
My “for whatever reason” was a legit “I do not know the reason.” Now I do.
December 10th, 2021 at 7:09 PM ^
He’ll probably end up winning the Heisman. #BenjaminSt.Juste
December 10th, 2021 at 8:17 PM ^
#Ondre Pipkins disagrees
December 10th, 2021 at 8:35 PM ^
*Pimp-kins*
December 10th, 2021 at 10:35 PM ^
I don’t know what you heard about me….
December 10th, 2021 at 6:12 PM ^
Best of luck to the young man! I’m sure he’s thrilled for the opportunity.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:13 PM ^
That's how awesome our year is going. We're curing kids of shit!
Donating bonuses and NIL. That's karma right there!!!
December 10th, 2021 at 6:13 PM ^
The reason he'll be doing it elsewhere is that we have an All-Big-10 QB on the roster already and he might not be the best QB we have.
Kid hasn't played for a few years. He's going to have to go somewhere small to see the field.
Good for him. As long as it is safe for him to play I wish him all the best.
December 11th, 2021 at 12:28 AM ^
If this isn't the main reason, it's another reason that's at least as good. I've rewatched the OSU and Iowa games and I've been a Cade supporter all year, never once pined for JJ as the starter, but I have a feeling we won't be able to keep JJ off the field next year. As good as Cade has been, and he's been great, I just think JJ might be too good of an athlete not to have as the starting QB. In either case, JD Johnson ain't seeing the field at Michigan anytime soon.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:17 PM ^
Harbaugh chases yet another QB away. /s
Great for JD and yet another example of the leadership of Harbaugh.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:33 PM ^
/s noted - but Coach Harbaugh is a quality man and leader. His emphasis on his players is fantastic and I couldn’t be prouder. Contrast that with “3 minutes to say I’m outta here” Brian K and you’re talking completely different universes.
best of luck to JD down the road wherever he lands; and I hope his health remains a non issue and he has a great career (that doesn’t somehow negatively impact UM ?)
December 10th, 2021 at 8:43 PM ^
I agree. Harbaugh rubs some people the wrong way but deep down is an inherently good man. Others like Kelly, Tressel, Meyer pretend to be good people but deep down are rather loathsome. Don't know anything about Ryan Day.
December 10th, 2021 at 11:03 PM ^
Since you brought it up. Check out and google Ryan Day suicide mental health initiative. I think you will find that we can't hate him as much as we think we can. As an opponent, yes. As a man, no.
Not Tressel or Kelly or Meyer, He is not those guys,
December 10th, 2021 at 6:17 PM ^
People are saying he's not allowed to play at Michigan. Once you go on medical scholarship at a school, you can't play there again or else teams could do sketchy stuff with "medical retirements" to temporarily save scholarship space.
Good luck to him, I hope he does great wherever he goes.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:45 PM ^
Maybe this is just temporary, until we get an exemption, as we should, if you consider the free transfer rules for everyone. Right ? Shouldn't they give an exemption here ?
If not then go to a CMU a year and then transfer back. That should be within the rules.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:19 PM ^
Nice to hear that he has been involved and at least getting "mental reps" during his time in Ann Arbor. Best of luck and hope he can make the most of his opportunity.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:20 PM ^
So stoked for this kid. That’s gotta be a like a new lease on life. Hopefully he balls out anywhere he goes and doesn’t come across us on the schedule!
December 10th, 2021 at 6:25 PM ^
Handheld landsliding helps
December 10th, 2021 at 6:26 PM ^
BTW he was ranked the #16 pro-style QB when he was recruited. So he definitely has the chance to play somewhere if he works himself back into playing shape.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:31 PM ^
For whatever reason, though, he'll be doing that elsewhere
Uhhh because we have a QB who just took us to the CFP and a promising 5* true freshman on the roster?
Really happy for JD though. Go show off your skills
December 10th, 2021 at 6:36 PM ^
Beat everyone, unless you play Blue!
December 10th, 2021 at 6:39 PM ^
Impressive kid - impressive program. Good luck JD, and go blue!
December 10th, 2021 at 6:39 PM ^
I can't think of better praise than "character and player priority focus" for a Michigan football coach. It's been a veritable love fest these days for coach.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:42 PM ^
What an experience
December 10th, 2021 at 6:43 PM ^
I believe Benjamin St. Juste did the same thing. Medically retired at Michigan, then went to Minnesota and now plays in the NFL.
December 10th, 2021 at 10:42 PM ^
A bit different with St. Juste. He had health issues after enrolling and being on the roster a couple years. Johnson medically retired during his senior year in high school, and Michigan honored his scholarship.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:45 PM ^
Good luck to him. Hopefully he can stay healthy and continue playing.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:48 PM ^
Huh? "For whatever reason he'll be doing it elsewhere?"
There are two very clear reasons and they both have freshman eligibility.
December 10th, 2021 at 6:49 PM ^
I don't want to get anyone in HIPAA trouble, but I'm curious about the details of his two medical encounters (the no-go one and the Cleveland Clinic "clearance" one). Did anything change? Difference of opinion? It's interesting. The Cleveland Clinic isn't a blingy backwater health system.
December 10th, 2021 at 9:22 PM ^
He was born with a coarctation of his aorta. He received a stent during childhood, which then needed to be expanded as he got older. It was determined that all the risks associated with condition were not fixable via surgery so he medically retired.
I'm not a doctor but I do play one on eharmony. Plenty of things could have happened since his retirement. Possibly he screened in for blood thinners minimizing risk of stroke, maybe his stent was expanded enough and his prognosis was better than originally thought, etc.
December 10th, 2021 at 11:07 PM ^
eHarmony
I'm impressed!
Say, are you attracted to short, balding men who have "a great personality"?
December 10th, 2021 at 6:52 PM ^
That statement says so much about the coaching and culture under Harbaugh. That’s great.
December 10th, 2021 at 7:00 PM ^
Happy for the kid and equally happy that we have a head coach, coaching staff, and culture that did right by this person during these past two years.
The Michigan Difference.
December 10th, 2021 at 7:18 PM ^
Great news; good luck to him. I'm sure that Illinois, or some other MAC level team, could use him.
December 10th, 2021 at 7:20 PM ^
Wow. What a classy statement
December 10th, 2021 at 7:21 PM ^
I think he is from Arizona. Maybe Harbaugh can talk him up to Jedd Fisch and the relationship can be mutually beneficial.
December 10th, 2021 at 7:24 PM ^
Good luck to him. Stay healthy and have a great career!
December 10th, 2021 at 7:28 PM ^
May be hard for him to find playing time with the 2 in front of him.
December 10th, 2021 at 7:30 PM ^
Beat wishes to the young man, unless he plays Michigan.
December 10th, 2021 at 7:35 PM ^
Classy message and I'm glad Michigan did right by him.
December 10th, 2021 at 7:51 PM ^
Wow! Hope he stays safe and wish him well. Makes me proud that he has that to say about Jim.
December 10th, 2021 at 7:55 PM ^
Interesting. Glad he's got another chance, but can't help but wonder why he doesn't want to stay if he's had such a positive experience at UM. You'd think he'd still be a year behind McCarthy and have 1-2 of starting opportunity after McCarthy. Maybe he's just looking for an easier path to becoming a starter.