Northwestern University Athletics
One-on-One With Ben Johnson
10/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 20, 2008
Special teams have been playing very well so far this year and you have been a big part of that. To what do you attribute your success?
You know, everyone buying into the fact that they have to do their job. It's not about personal glory or anything; it's just about doing what they need to do to help the team get a victory.
You played receiver and safety in high school. How easy or difficult was the transition to linebacker?
Well, last year was terrible. I had some problems being physical. And then over the course of winter workouts and just the off-season and then the summer, that whole year that I had to grow and mature; it just helped so much. And now--playing linebacker--it's growing on me and it's a lot more fun than it was last year. I enjoy it a lot more.
You grew up playing right near where NU has its preseason camp in Kenosha. Did that at all influence your decision when choosing Northwestern?
To be honest with you, I had no idea that I could play this level of football. To play Big Ten football was a goal, obviously. I watched all the games and, just watching those guys, I couldn't see myself out there at first and to get the chance was amazing. But I never really saw myself at Northwestern until I met Coach Walker and he told me that he saw potential in me but he just didn't know where to put me. So it was really the summer before my senior year when I finally realized, `Well, hey, maybe Northwestern is the place to go.'
Do you like going back every year for camp?
Yeah, absolutely! I've had friends who came and watch me. It takes them five minutes to get there. Everyone else is from around the country and I'm home, basically. It's always fun driving past my high school and showing that's where I'm from. So it's kind of cool.
You've moved up considerably on the defensive depth chart over the last year. How far away do you think you are from where you need to or want to be and what do you need to do in order to get there?
Well, right now I know my position; I know my role on the defense. My spot is not in stone and I realize that. It's just up to me to make "Q" (Quentin Davie) better. I just have to come out every day and just give everything I've got and not take it down a gear, you know, just keep it going.
What has your biggest challenge been since you've joined the Wildcats?
Definitely the time commitment. It's a full-time job playing college football; the obligations, the responsibility, everything. To be successful you can't take a day off and, once you do, the other guy is getting better than you.
Who have you learned the most from in your time at Northwestern?
That's a good question. I would have to say Coach Bates, my linebacker coach. He is one of the most enthusiastic men I've ever had coach me. He definitely has shown that he believes in me and he says that in practice where he yells at me because I'm doing something wrong. But Coach Bates is someone who I've looked up to and respected over the last year. He's a great man and I love his coaching style, so it's all worked out.
What do you like to do when you're not playing football?
Surprisingly, I'm still running around playing racquetball with some of my friends I made last year. I'm always in the weight room; it's kind of where I live. I release a lot of stress in there, you know, just somewhere I can just go, be alone, do my thing. I like to play video games and spend a lot of time with friends.
You were undersized last year and your coaches wanted you to put on a considerable amount of weight. How much commitment does that take?
It's going to be a commitment to try and gain weight like that. I have a goal set to gain weight and it's been difficult so far. But I feel that's one of the hardest things that I have to do right now--is just put on the weight--because the speed and the athleticism are there but, the weight, it's either make it or break it with that. And I think that's just going to come with time and growing.
