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Syracuse will reportedly hire Michael Johnson Sr. as its new wide receivers coach, Pete Thamel of ESPN reported. 247Sports later confirmed the report.

Johnson was the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Florida Atlantic last season and was expected to be FAU’s tight ends coach in 2022. His prior stops included time as wide receivers coach for the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens and three college programs, including Mississippi State, where Johnson coached now-starting SU quarterback Garrett Shrader.

Terrence Samuel, who led the Orange’s wide receivers last season, left for an assistant coaching spot at Kansas in early December. Syracuse lost its No. 1 receiver, Taj Harris, to the transfer portal after its loss to Florida State in October. SU attempted to replace Harris with increased production from Courtney Jackson, Sharod Johnson and Anthony Queeley, but its passing offense ranked last in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2021, averaging just 153 passing yards per game.

Johnson coached in the NFL from 2000-2010, working for four teams as an offensive coordinator, along with stints heading quarterbacks and wide receivers. In 2011, Johnson moved to the Pac-12 as UCLA’s offensive coordinator, later being named interim head coach for the Bruins’ bowl game after Rick Neuheisel was fired.

Michael Johnson Jr., Johnson’s son, is a quarterback at FAU after transferring following his freshman year at Penn State. Johnson Jr. was a 4-star recruit according to ESPN and ranked as the ninth-best quarterback in the 2019 class, earning offers from over 30 schools including Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia.

Syracuse has now added four coaches to its 2022 staff, following the additions of Robert Anae (offensive coordinator), Jason Beck (quarterbacks coach) and Bob Ligashesky (special teams coordinator).