Lane Kiffin creates instant controversy with his first FAU recruit

Published Dec. 14, 2016 12:29 p.m. ET

Aaron Torres

When Lane Kiffin was announced as Florida Atlantic's new head coach, the first thing everyone wanted to know was whether he really was a changed man. Did he really learn under Nick Saban? Or is he the same guy who committed NCAA violations at Tennessee and always seemed to find himself in the news for all the wrong reasons at USC?

Well, we began to get that answer on Wednesday, and it isn't necessarily a good look.

With today being National Signing Day for junior college players, Kiffin has signed his first recruit at FAU -- a JUCO quarterback named De'Andre Johnson from East Mississippi Community College.

Does that name sound familiar? It should. Johnson was kicked out of Florida State in the summer of 2015 after he was caught on video striking a woman in a Tallahassee bar. He eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery charges in a story that made national headlines. Johnson even appeared on 'Good Morning America' to apologize to the victim.