DURHAM, N.C. -- Atlantic Coast Conference sacks leader Shawn Johnson is transferring from Duke to Division I-AA Fordham.

Duke spokesman Art Chase said Tuesday that he did not know the reason for the decision by the All-ACC selection. But the defensive end's father said a meeting last month between the player and coach Carl Franks ''got pretty heated.''

''He's not happy there,'' Robert Johnson told The Charlotte Observer. ''All these years of losing is wearing on him.''

Franks said in a prepared statement Tuesday that the coaching staff invested a great deal of time and effort working with Johnson.

''But this outcome was inevitable and probably in the best interests of everyone involved,'' Franks said.

Johnson is scheduled to get his degree from Duke in May, but has a year of eligibility remaining.

The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Johnson had 12 sacks and 73 tackles for the 2-10 Blue Devils.