Oklahoma State University Athletics
10 Questions With Rodrick Johnson
August 10, 2004 | Cowboy Football
OSU's veterans will participate in their second fall workout this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. on the practice fields.
Following is an interview with Johnson conducted during media day.
Why Oklahoma State?
“Oklahoma State was the best choice for me to play. We have a great recruiting class and I wanted to go somewhere that was building something and be a part of it, not go somewhere that was already built and had its players. This is an up and coming program and I wanted to be a part of it.”
How has the excitement surrounding the Cowboy football program affected you?
“It feels great. The stadium looks good so far. I can't wait to see it completed. Just walking out of the tunnel at the Cotton Bowl with the team and seeing all of our crowd cheering gave me butterflies. I felt like I was getting ready to play. I can't wait and am so excited to get to the first game.”
How hard was it to stand and watch from the sideline at the Cotton Bowl?
“It was pretty hard. I had to stay back a little bit so I wouldn't accidentally jump out on the field. I just stayed out of the the guys' way and congratulated them when they did something good and got mad when something went wrong.”
How did participating in spring practice benefit you?
“It got me ahead of the game a whole lot. I am ahead in football and I am ahead in school. I have about 21 hours out of the way already because I took some classes in the summer also. I learned my defensive plays quickly and am helping the other freshman that are here now learn the plays, so it has been very beneficial to me.”
How did your first day of practice go?
“It was rough trying to get back out here and remember half the things you learned during the spring. The heat wasn't really a factor, but just trying to get back into football mode was tough. Today, I had a much better practice.”
What are your expectations for the team and yourself?
"My expectations are high for this team. There is no limit to what this team can accomplish. For myself, there is no limit to what I can accomplish as long as I keep my head on straight and do the necessary things. This team is one of the strongest I have seen.”
Were there any surprises concerning Division I football when you got out here?
“The speed is a lot faster than high school football, definitely. There weren't really any surprises, though. I just knew that the speed of the game was going to be totally different from high school. Basically, the biggest surprise was how difficult the plays were. I never really knew how much I had to learn.”
What has been your biggest adjustment so far?
“My biggest adjustment will be having to learn all of the plays like Paul Duren knows them. He knows them by heart and that is how I want to get to know them. Paul Duren is another coach on the field and that is how I want to be. I want to be able to know what everyone is doing on the field because that will help me with my assignments."
What is the biggest asset you bring to this team?
“Size. I think I bring a lot of size and a lot of enthusiasm and energy to the team.”
How special is it to play your first collegiate game in the Rose Bowl?
“I will be nervous and excited. I don't know if or how much I am going to play, but if I do I will be ready.”
