CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall, a three-time Sun Belt Conference player of the year, entered the transfer portal on Wednesday, and former Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson committed to North Carolina.
It is the second straight season McCall had announced his intention to leave the program. However, he returned last year after the school hired current coach Tim Beck to replace Jamey Chadwell, who had left for Liberty after the 2022 season.
McCall's post on social media Wednesday thanked the school for his five years before saying he had entered the portal as a graduate transfer with a final year of eligibility remaining.
Johnson announced his commitment with a social media post. He has started games for LSU and Texas A&M over his four-year career. Having graduated, he was eligible to transfer again and be immediately eligible.
Johnson stepped in as the starter for Texas A&M this past season after Conner Weigman went down with an injury. Johnson started seven games, before a rib injury ended his season in early November.
He threw 1,452 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
With Drake Maye expected to declare for the NFL draft, North Carolina's starting quarterback job will be open heading into the 2024 season.
McCall, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound fifth-year senior, missed his team's final five games with a head injury suffered at Arkansas State on Oct. 21. McCall was knocked unconscious, carted off the field and spent the night in a hospital before returning to campus.
McCall suited up for Coastal Carolina's 56-14 loss to No. 24 James Madison last week, but he did not see action.
He has thrown for 10,005 yards with 88 touchdowns and 14 interceptions the past five years. He set the NCAA single-season mark for pass efficiency rating (207.6) in 2021.
Among the other notable players to enter the transfer portal on Wednesday were Cincinnati safety/linebacker Deshawn Pace, who led the team in tackles with 80 in 11 games; North Texas receiver Ja'Mori Maclin, who had 1,004 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns this season; and Clemson offensive lineman Mitchell Mayes, a former four-star recruit who made five starts in four years with the the Tigers.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
