Redshirt junior defensive tackle Austin Johnson spent just over 15 minutes on the phone this morning with local reporters talking about a wide variety of topics from Rutgers' offense, the Scarlet Knights recruiting him as an offensive guard in high school, 'Crazy Carl' Nassib and more.
Here are some of the highlights:
On Rutgers offense…
“They’re a very good and big offensive line and they run the ball well. They do a lot of things well, so it's going to be a good matchup and it’ll test everything we’ve been working on.”
…
“Last year was a very physical and close game, so I expect nothing else. I expect their O-line to be physical again because they obviously have a good offensive line. With the running backs they have it’s going to be a very physical game.”
On getting upfield vs. being run-stopper…
“It’s just something that I wanted to do differently. (Coach Sean Spencer) brought it up to me, be more disruptive and get in the backfield more often. So I focused on that a lot during the off-season.”
…
“I’m just trying to obviously win games, but I can definitely play better than what I did last year and that’s just what I’m trying to prove. I’m more than a run stuffer. I can do a whole bunch of things. I’m very versatile, so I just wanted to show people what I can do.”
On Carl Nassib…
“He’s still ‘Crazy Carl,’ of course. He’s just an interesting character. He’s loud energetic and will let you know what's on his mind, what he’s thinking. He’s very much like the rest of us when we're around each other. He’s just not the same outside the locker room when he’s around people he doesn’t really know. He’s a little different when he’s around family.”
“Crazy Carl never stops being Crazy Carl. It’s hard to explain because Carl never really changes in that sense, but he’s more comfortable around us."
On visiting Beaver Stadium for PSU vs. Alabama as a recruit in 2011…
“That was just a really big game, and I think the attendance was like 109,000 or something crazy like that. Of course, the one play I remember was Devon Still hitting Trent Richardson in the backfield. It was a crazy game to remember. Just seeing the whole atmosphere and the Penn State fans there, I think it played into my decision as well.”
On Von Walker…
“Whoever is down he’s going to pick them up. He’s just a natural leader and he’s going to give everything he has when he’s on the field. When we rotate, it doesn’t matter where he is, he’s still cheering people on, cheering the offense on. That’s what we need more of.”
On Garrett Sickels…
“Garrett is very fast off the ball. He’s an amazing pass rusher and stuff like that, so he’s definitely had a good year so far, and it’s just going to get better from here. That’s what I think.”
On playing Rutgers as a New Jersey native…
“It definitely means a lot to me because, obviously, I am from Jersey and I want to win. I don’t want to lose to Rutgers. Yeah, I was recruited by Rutgers, but at the time they wanted me to play guard, and I didn’t want to do that. Every game is a big game for us, and every game is a big game for me because I'm looking to dominate. But I guess this year there is a bit more (anticipation) because last year we went there and it was a close game. This year they’re coming here, so it might be a little bit of a better atmosphere for us.”
On opposing offenses playing in Beaver Stadium…
“I think the crowd plays a big role in the other team having penalties and stuff like that. Sometimes the opposing team might stay with the regular play (that was called), but sometimes teams have hand signals and hand checks and stuff like that. So the crowd plays a big factor into that and it takes more time off the clock, as they get into the play they want. So the crowd is going to play a very important role in this game.”
As a journalism major…
“What I really want to do is be a sports broadcaster and talk about what I’ve done all my life, which would be pretty easy for me, I think. I can see myself definitely doing that, or wherever that path leads me.”
On wearing the No. 99 jersey…
“For me, it’s just a number. When I first got here I wanted to get 91, but DaQuan Jones was wearing that number. Ever since I had 99, I never really decided to change my number when he left. I just like that number.”
On this weekend’s ‘Stripe Out’..
“I’ve seen the pictures online, so I definitely think it’s going to be a very good game. It’s very creative on whoever’s part who decided to come up with that. I think it’s a good idea.”
On Rutgers recruiting him as an offensive guard…
“I just really didn’t want to play offensive line in college. I didn’t want to play guard. They’re the only school that offered me to play guard, and I didn’t really want to do that. (laughs) I just like playing defense. I like hitting. I’d just rather hit, move around, run and make plays in the backfield and do what I need to on the defensive side of the ball. I just like playing defense more than I like playing defense.”
Here are some of the highlights:
On Rutgers offense…
“They’re a very good and big offensive line and they run the ball well. They do a lot of things well, so it's going to be a good matchup and it’ll test everything we’ve been working on.”
…
“Last year was a very physical and close game, so I expect nothing else. I expect their O-line to be physical again because they obviously have a good offensive line. With the running backs they have it’s going to be a very physical game.”
On getting upfield vs. being run-stopper…
“It’s just something that I wanted to do differently. (Coach Sean Spencer) brought it up to me, be more disruptive and get in the backfield more often. So I focused on that a lot during the off-season.”
…
“I’m just trying to obviously win games, but I can definitely play better than what I did last year and that’s just what I’m trying to prove. I’m more than a run stuffer. I can do a whole bunch of things. I’m very versatile, so I just wanted to show people what I can do.”
On Carl Nassib…
“He’s still ‘Crazy Carl,’ of course. He’s just an interesting character. He’s loud energetic and will let you know what's on his mind, what he’s thinking. He’s very much like the rest of us when we're around each other. He’s just not the same outside the locker room when he’s around people he doesn’t really know. He’s a little different when he’s around family.”
“Crazy Carl never stops being Crazy Carl. It’s hard to explain because Carl never really changes in that sense, but he’s more comfortable around us."
On visiting Beaver Stadium for PSU vs. Alabama as a recruit in 2011…
“That was just a really big game, and I think the attendance was like 109,000 or something crazy like that. Of course, the one play I remember was Devon Still hitting Trent Richardson in the backfield. It was a crazy game to remember. Just seeing the whole atmosphere and the Penn State fans there, I think it played into my decision as well.”
On Von Walker…
“Whoever is down he’s going to pick them up. He’s just a natural leader and he’s going to give everything he has when he’s on the field. When we rotate, it doesn’t matter where he is, he’s still cheering people on, cheering the offense on. That’s what we need more of.”
On Garrett Sickels…
“Garrett is very fast off the ball. He’s an amazing pass rusher and stuff like that, so he’s definitely had a good year so far, and it’s just going to get better from here. That’s what I think.”
On playing Rutgers as a New Jersey native…
“It definitely means a lot to me because, obviously, I am from Jersey and I want to win. I don’t want to lose to Rutgers. Yeah, I was recruited by Rutgers, but at the time they wanted me to play guard, and I didn’t want to do that. Every game is a big game for us, and every game is a big game for me because I'm looking to dominate. But I guess this year there is a bit more (anticipation) because last year we went there and it was a close game. This year they’re coming here, so it might be a little bit of a better atmosphere for us.”
On opposing offenses playing in Beaver Stadium…
“I think the crowd plays a big role in the other team having penalties and stuff like that. Sometimes the opposing team might stay with the regular play (that was called), but sometimes teams have hand signals and hand checks and stuff like that. So the crowd plays a big factor into that and it takes more time off the clock, as they get into the play they want. So the crowd is going to play a very important role in this game.”
As a journalism major…
“What I really want to do is be a sports broadcaster and talk about what I’ve done all my life, which would be pretty easy for me, I think. I can see myself definitely doing that, or wherever that path leads me.”
On wearing the No. 99 jersey…
“For me, it’s just a number. When I first got here I wanted to get 91, but DaQuan Jones was wearing that number. Ever since I had 99, I never really decided to change my number when he left. I just like that number.”
On this weekend’s ‘Stripe Out’..
“I’ve seen the pictures online, so I definitely think it’s going to be a very good game. It’s very creative on whoever’s part who decided to come up with that. I think it’s a good idea.”
On Rutgers recruiting him as an offensive guard…
“I just really didn’t want to play offensive line in college. I didn’t want to play guard. They’re the only school that offered me to play guard, and I didn’t really want to do that. (laughs) I just like playing defense. I like hitting. I’d just rather hit, move around, run and make plays in the backfield and do what I need to on the defensive side of the ball. I just like playing defense more than I like playing defense.”
Last edited:
