Former Washington State receiver Isaiah Johnson-Mack bound for FCS Duquesne

PULLMAN – In December, Isaiah Johnson-Mack announced he was transferring from Washington State in order to be closer to home. The former Cougars receiver is indeed moving closer to Florida, but he won’t necessarily be finishing out his college football career in the Sunshine State.

On Friday, Johnson-Mack announced on Twitter he’ll be transferring to Duquesne University, an FCS school in Pittsburgh that plays football in the Northeast Conference. Johnson-Mack should be eligible to play for the Dukes this fall.

In his tweet, Johnson-Mack said the transfer process was “very long and stressful” but something “that taught me a lot.” Days after announcing his intentions to transfer, Johnson-Mack posted, then deleted, a tweet saying that WSU coach Mike Leach had “denied my release” from the football program.

Leach, who was on the road recruiting, said via a school spokesperson that he planned to meet with Johnson-Mack upon his return to Pullman. Johnson-Mack then reported on Dec. 11 he’d been granted his release.

Johnson-Mack, a sophomore, was WSU’s starter at “Z” receiver in 2017 and finished the regular season with 60 catches for 555 yards and five touchdowns. Only Tavares Martin Jr., a fellow Floridian who also attended William T. Dwyer High School, finished the season with better receiving numbers.

Martin Jr. was dismissed from the Cougars in December and recently announced he’d be foregoing his senior season and instead prepare for the NFL Draft.