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The Gainesville area’s most impressive football powerhouse will look drastically different next season.
Buchholz QB Trace Johnson shocked the local preps scene Friday afternoon by announcing he was transferring from Gainesville to Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, about 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
SMCHS is a college prep school has a dominant athletic program. Its football team is coached by Carson Palmer, who was hired earlier this year. Palmer attended the school in the mid-1990s before attending USC from 1998-2002.
In LA, Palmer won the Heisman Trophy in 2002. He was selected first overall in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Palmer played 15 seasons in the NFL for the Bengals, Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals and was selected to the Pro Bowl three times.
Johnson leaves after starting for Buchholz for two seasons. He filled the shoes of Mr. Florida Creed Whittemore before the 2023 season and led BHS to a 23-5 record and back-to-back region titles.
Known for his cannon of an arm and quartet of great receivers – Justin Williams, DJ Hicks and Keil McGriff – Johnson threw for over 6,300 yards and 64 TDs in his two years as a starter. His 3,522 yards this past season ranked 4th in Florida and 1st in Class 6A.
His departure creates an interesting QB situation for the back-to-back-to-back-to-back state semifinals. Andrew Whittemore, son of head coach Mark Whittemore, was the backup last season. He attempted just seven passes for 17 yards in 2024, though.
McGriff started at QB for Newberry in 2022 and 2023, where he led them to the postseason both seasons. McGriff, though, has four D1 offers – all at receiver. He transferred to Buchholz to play the position over QB.
Bobcats spring practice is expected to begin around late April or early May.
Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at [email protected] and follow him @Noah_ram1 on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Buchholz QB Trace Johnson, son of Florida football's Doug Johnson, transfers
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Buchholz QB Trace Johnson shocked the local preps scene Friday afternoon by announcing he was transferring from Gainesville to Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, about 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
SMCHS is a college prep school has a dominant athletic program. Its football team is coached by Carson Palmer, who was hired earlier this year. Palmer attended the school in the mid-1990s before attending USC from 1998-2002.
In LA, Palmer won the Heisman Trophy in 2002. He was selected first overall in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Palmer played 15 seasons in the NFL for the Bengals, Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals and was selected to the Pro Bowl three times.
Johnson leaves after starting for Buchholz for two seasons. He filled the shoes of Mr. Florida Creed Whittemore before the 2023 season and led BHS to a 23-5 record and back-to-back region titles.
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Known for his cannon of an arm and quartet of great receivers – Justin Williams, DJ Hicks and Keil McGriff – Johnson threw for over 6,300 yards and 64 TDs in his two years as a starter. His 3,522 yards this past season ranked 4th in Florida and 1st in Class 6A.
His departure creates an interesting QB situation for the back-to-back-to-back-to-back state semifinals. Andrew Whittemore, son of head coach Mark Whittemore, was the backup last season. He attempted just seven passes for 17 yards in 2024, though.
McGriff started at QB for Newberry in 2022 and 2023, where he led them to the postseason both seasons. McGriff, though, has four D1 offers – all at receiver. He transferred to Buchholz to play the position over QB.
Bobcats spring practice is expected to begin around late April or early May.
Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at [email protected] and follow him @Noah_ram1 on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Buchholz QB Trace Johnson, son of Florida football's Doug Johnson, transfers
Continue reading...
