Florida State boots suspended QB Johnson

FSU dismissed freshman QB De’Andre Johnson on Monday. (USATSI)

Just hours after footage of what was supposedly quarterback De’Andre Johnson striking a student at a Tallahassee bar was released to the public by the State Attorney’s Office, Florida State announced the player’s dismissal from the program.

The Seminoles made the announcement with the following statement:

Florida State head football coach Jimbo Fisher announced Monday evening that freshman De’Andre Johnson has been dismissed from the football team effective immediately. Johnson was indefinitely suspended on June 25 following initial reports of an incident that occurred off campus and resulted in a criminal charge.

Johnson was suspended indefinitely for a violation of athletic department policy after an incident resulted in a misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly punching a female FSU student at a bar.

Johnson, three-star prospect ranked among the top 15 dual threat quarterbacks in the country, enrolled at FSU in January and has been committed to the Seminoles since 2012. The Jacksonville native flashed signs of potential in spring practice, even throwing two touchdowns in the team’s spring game last April.

For Florida State, the dismissal does not greatly change the quarterback situation any more than the suspension, as Johnson was likely going to be out of the picture for 2015 given the nature of the initial charge.

Notre Dame transfer Everett Golson and Sean Maguire are likely to be the key figures during the competition for starter’s snaps this fall. Given Jimbo Fisher’s history — even eventual Heisman winner Jameis Winston had to compete for a few weeks before being named starter — I wouldn’t expect a starter to be named until mid-August at the earliest. Certainly not before Golson has a chance to familiarize himself with the playbook and take reps on the practice field.

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