JJ Johnson: "That's Been A Smooth Process"

NC State defensive back JJ Johnson met with the media to discuss spring practice, his time in Raleigh, and much more.

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Who is Johnson in the secondary? 

Yeah, they get confused a lot. Yeah. They're going like straight lines. They'll be right beside each other. Yeah, they still get confused a lot. 
 

I guess I'll ask you the same question, when this is a new situation, how long does it take before it starts to become normal? 

I feel like with me being an older guy, it didn't take long because I kind of knew what to expect. A lot of people, the guy that was here and the coaches made me feel welcome, so it didn't take long. It took a few weeks. 
 

How helpful is it for them to sort of speed up the process like that and make you feel welcome? 

It's big. The quicker I get comfortable, the more I can start, you know what I'm saying, helping other guys, making plays, learning the playbook. I can worry about the adjustment part later. 
 

What's it been like, getting to fit into the scheme here and kind of getting to learn out this spring? 

We actually ran sort of a similar scheme at Georgia State, so that's been a smooth process too. They were part of my recruitment. When they told me about part of my recruitment here, I was already familiar with everything playbook-wide. 
 

Do you ever laugh with Coach Shaw at Georgia State? 

Oh yeah.
 

What was it like getting back in the scene? 

He was the same. He was really energetic over there, bringing that same juice here. He was a great coach.
 

What have you learned about NC State since you've been here? 

Really just how in tune all the coaches here were, not only the school, but the city. Everybody's so invested in North Carolina State. That's something I've been missing, so I enjoy that.
 

Have any of the younger safeties stood out to you at all so far? 

Oh yeah. We've got some dogs. Tristan. He's a freshman. Headhunter. We've got Ronnie Royal III. We've got some dogs. They're growing, but they're going to be like that. 
 

Did you go through some things at Georgia State where coaches leave right before spring practice? Or maybe you did that? 

Yeah. They end up having to do it. Yeah. 
 

I mean, how crazy was that time period when you look back?

There was just a lot of uncertainty at that moment. But I feel like I handled it pretty well. 
 

You mentioned being an older guy. How was it like to lead a young group like that? 

I feel like once I kind of took on that, embraced that role. Kind of embraced it. What can I pass on? What can I leave behind to them? It's going to end for all of them one day. They can leave behind something to the guys behind them too.
 

Last year, expectations for that team were through the roof. This year, you guys are kind of floating under the radar. What do you have to say about this team, to people out there, that maybe this team is better than what expectations might be for it? 

I would say for the people outside, the best team is going to win. And I feel like there's a lot of camaraderie in this locker room with the coaches, players, the training staff, everybody together. Everybody is pulling for the same goal. 
 

Maybe it already has happened, but would you like to talk to, say, DK Kaufman, who kind of went through the same thing you just went through last year, when he arrived in the summer, became a starter at safety? 

Say who? 
 

DK Kaufman. He was the state safety that you'll probably be replacing. 

Oh, yeah. 

Similar situation. He arrived in the spring or summer, made his impact right away. 
Oh, yeah. As long as I come in and do what I got handed my business, you know what I'm saying? Stay on top of the playbook, stay on top of schoolwork, and just let football take care of itself. I've been doing it for a minute. I know I got my time schedule set out on everything I need to do in order to give myself the opportunity. 
 

How important is it to regiment your day like that? And then do you impart that wisdom on younger players? 

Oh, yeah. That's something I try to preach to them. And it's really important because it gives you that consistency. You do the same thing every day, it becomes second nature. You're building good habits.