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‘Last Chance U’ star De’Andre Johnson a favorite to win FAU starting job

By Connor Muldowney

TALLAHASSEE, FL - APRIL 11: De'Andre Johnson #14 of the Gold team runs to the sideline following a rushing touchdown against the Garnet team during Florida State's Garnet and Gold spring game at Doak Campbell Stadium on April 11, 2015 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - APRIL 11: De'Andre Johnson #14 of the Gold team runs to the sideline following a rushing touchdown against the Garnet team during Florida State's Garnet and Gold spring game at Doak Campbell Stadium on April 11, 2015 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Florida Atlantic football landed ‘Last Chance U’ star quarterback De’Andre Johnson and now he has a chance to win the starting job.

The fall from grace in college football can be a steep one. In fact, De’Andre Johnson committed to Florida State’s 2015 recruiting class as a highly sought-after recruit, but was booted from the team after video was released of him hitting a female student at a bar.

So many question marks surrounded his personality, but Buddy Stephens and East Mississippi C.C. took him in despite the concerns. He had never been in trouble outside of the bar incident and, if you watched Season 2 of ‘Last Chance U’, his parents were embarrassed of the whole situation because they said they raised him to never lay a hand on anyone.

Johnson responded to the situation by changing his entire persona and becoming a role model for teammates at East Mississippi. He stepped into the role of starting quarterback and passed for over 2,600 yards and was an electric dual-threat.

By the end of the show’s second season, he was one of the only players on the team who were featured and didn’t have a scholarship offer from an FBS program. Then, Lane Kiffin and Florida Atlantic stepped in.

Kiffin offered him a scholarship and Johnson committed to the Owls, likely to become the team’s starting quarterback as a sophomore.

Heading into fall camp, the job is his to lose this season and he’s the projected starter over junior Jason Driskel who started last season and passed for 2,415 yards, nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Next: Top 5 stars from 'Last Chance U' Season 2

It’s good to see Johnson doing better and competing for a starting job at the FBS level. Could he be one of the nation’s breakout stars this season?

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