Five months ago, Chris Johnson Jr. was the silence-maker in Death Valley.
On a humid October afternoon, the SMU running back scampered into the Memorial Stadium end zone from six yards out, securing an upset victory that sent the Clemson faithful into a collective state of shock. Today, the man who once played the spoiler is the Tigers’ newest weapon.
After entering the transfer portal on Jan. 5, Johnson traded the Mustang on his helmet for a Tiger Paw, officially joining Dabo Swinney’s backfield for the 2026 season. For Johnson, a Fort Lauderdale native who started his career at Miami before a standout stint in Dallas, the move to Clemson feels less like a detour and more like a homecoming.