© Jerome Miron, USA TODAY
WATCH: Aggies QB Max Johson Throws TD On Opening Drive Of Maroon And White Game
COLLEGE STATION -- Welcome back to Kyle Field Max Johnson.
On his opening drive of Texas A&M's annual Maroon and White game, Johnson showed that he is still in the running for the title of QB1. Showing poise in the pocket, Johnson delivered a 52-yard touchdown pass to Micah Tease to give the White team a 6-3 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Johnson also connected with freshman running back Rueben Owens on a swing pass for a gain of 6. He finished the drive 2-of-2 for 59 yards and a touchdown.
A transfer from LSU, Johnson competed with initial 2021 starter Haynes King for first-team reps last spring. While King won the starting job, he was benched following a 17-14 loss to Appalachian State in Week 2.
Johnson showed promise in three starts last season, finishing with a 2-1 record. He threw for 517 yards and three TDs, including one against then-No. 10 Arkansas in the Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium. He likely would have retained the starting job for the remainder of the year, but a broken hand in Week 5's loss to Mississippi State sidelined him for the remainder of the year.
With Johnson out, freshman Conner Weigman was given the opportunity to close out the season as the starter. Much like Johnson, he impressed, throwing for 898 yards and eight touchdowns in five games. Weigman also orchestrated the offense to a 38-23 season finale win over No. 5 LSU and threw for four TDs in his starting debut against Ole Miss.
Sixth-year A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said that both Weigman and Johnson would have a chance to prove their value as the starting quarterback under new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. In practice, the two passers split reps with the first-team unit team drills and 7-on-7 reps.
"Max and Conner are awesome," senior tight end Max Wright said during his media session Wednesday. "Those guys push each other every single day. It's always beneficial when you have two guys who are as selfless as they are in the same program and who are always willing to push each other, hoping that the best guy is going to play for the program."
Weigman, a former five-star from Cypress (Texas), finished his first drive 3-of-5 for 54 yards, including a 28-yard pass to receiver Evan Stewart.
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