Florida Atlantic signed a QB who was booted by FSU for punching a woman

Florida Atlantic has made the first signing of the Lane Kiffin era. The signing was reportedly in the works before Kiffin’s arrival.

Former Florida State quarterback De’Andre Johnson (East Mississippi Community College) signed with FAU, per a source.

Johnson, an early enrollee, has three years of eligibility. He will enroll in January, as first-reported by 247Sports.

Wednesday is a sort of National Signing Day for JUCO players, such as Johnson. Johnson confirmed the news on Twitter and at a signing ceremony at First Coast High School, his Jacksonville alma mater.

In 2015, Johnson was dismissed from the Florida State program for this incident at a Tallahassee bar.

At the time, the woman “suffered multiple injuries to her face including bruises and cuts and was treated by medics,” according to Tomahawk Nation and media reports.

Johnson was dismissed from FSU about two weeks later, and faced a misdemeanor battery charge. In December 2015, Johnson signed a plea deal right before the case was to go to trial. He was ordered on probation for six months and served 10 days on a sheriff’s work crew.

The woman spoke out shortly after Johnson was sentenced.

“I’m actually very grateful that this deal happened and everything but I can’t help but feel a little upset that the whole truth didn’t come out with a trial,” she said, “I think that a lot of people think that I am the one that started that even though... I wouldn’t do that.”

Johnson seems to be at least trying to use the situation to influence players who will come after him.

And the decision to add Johnson reportedly had to be cleared by those above Kiffin.

And Johnson tweeted on Dec. 10 that the Owls extended a scholarship offer to him.