Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/433715
teammates such as DaQuan Jones and Jordan Hill, both of whom are enjoying NFL careers. Their advice has given him insight into what it will take to achieve the success he envisions for himself one day. To follow on the heels of Jones, Hill, Devon Still, Jared Odrick and the other former Penn State defensive linemen who are now thriving in the NFL, John- son is carrying out a commitment that comes naturally. The workouts he per- forms may involve weighted vests or ladders, but they're all designed for the same purpose: to separate himself from the competition. "It's just the little things that become bigger things and make you that much better. Nobody has really told me where I stand, and I really am not worried about it right now," he said. "I'm worried about playing to the best of my ability the entire season and playing with my defensive line, my brothers and every- body else on the defense." Johnson is already projected by some analysts as one of the top 10 defensive tackles in the 2017 NFL Draft class. Asked whether he could envision himself mak- ing the jump before exhausting all four years of his college eligibility, he down- played any suggestion that he'll soon be ready for the pro level. "Just talking to DaQuan and seeing how everything changes in the NFL, everybody is so good at their technique that you have to be even better at your technique to be good," he said. Readiness is one thing, ability another. Johnson seems to have little doubt about what he's capable of doing on the field. "You have to be con:dent in your cra< and your ability," he said. "I de:nitely want people to see that." But he also wants people to see and know the person he is when 107,000 fans aren't in the stadium to watch. That per- son – a big, confident, respectful kid who adores his family and cleans his room before his mother arrives on cam- pus – just wants to make a good im- pression on those around him. As far as his family is concerned, he's already done that. "I'm proud of him," Tammy said. "I think that's the kind of kid he is." ■ TALE OF THE TAPE BOSTON COLLEGE PENN STATE RECORD 7-5 (4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) 6-6 (2-6 Big Ten) RANKING – – HEAD COACH Steve Addazio (Central Connecticut, '82) James Franklin (East Stroudsburg, '95) COACH'S RECORD 14-11 in two seasons (27-22 overall) 6-6 in one season (Overall record: 30-21) COACH'S BOWL RECORD 1-1 2-1 SCHOOL'S BOWL RECORD 13-10 27-15-2 PINSTRIPE BOWL RECORD First appearance First appearance MOST RECENT BOWL Lost to Arizona in the 2013 AdvoCare V100 Bowl, Lost to Houston in 2011 Ticket City Bowl, 30-14 APPEARANCE 42-19 BASIC OFFENSE Multiple (25.9 ppg, 383.8 ypg) Multiple (19.8 ppg, 325.5 ypg) RUSHING LEADER Tyler Murphy (170 att, 1,079 yds, 10 TDs, 6.3 ypc) Akeel Lynch (130 att, 603 yds, 4.6 ypc) PASSING LEADER Tyler Murphy (1,526 yds, 11 TDs, 10 int, 56.9 pct) Christian Hackenberg (2,606 yds, 8 TDs, 15 int, 54.4 pct) RECEIVING LEADER Josh Bordner (26 rec, 342 yds, 3 TD) DaeSean Hamilton (75 rec, 848 yds, 1 TD) BASIC DEFENSE Multiple (20.5 ppg, 312.8 ypg) 4-3 (17.7 ppg, 269.8 ypg) TACKLE LEADER Justin Simmons (13 asst, 57 solo, 70 total) Mike Hull (61 asst, 73 solo, 134 total) SACK LEADER Josh Keyes (4, 34 yds) Anthony Zettel (8, 46 yds) INTERCEPTION LEADER Justin Simmons (2, 20 yds) Adrian Amos (3, 35 yds), Anthony Zettel (3, 52 yds)