Wake Forest Athletics
Johnson Back And With A New Focus
8/22/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 22, 2012
By Gary Petit (@GaryWFU), Wake Forest Media Relations
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - A long week of football practice is usually rewarded with gameday on Saturday. But for cornerback Kevin Johnson, there was little reward in 2011. After playing as a true-freshman in 2010, Johnson redshirted last season and is back in 2012 with a new focus.
"It was real tough last year not being able to participate," Johnson said. "It was actually devastating because I let my teammates and my family down. It humbled me and made me more mature and it changed my focus on and off the field."
Johnson was academically ineligible for the 2011 season. He continued to practice with the team each week but watched the games from the sidelines. Throughout the process, he learned one of the most important lessons for all student-athletes.
"I definitely learned to put my schoolwork first," said Johnson. "We have to handle our business off the field first before we can enjoy doing what you love do and that's football. I think I've become more mature when it comes to my schoolwork and I've learned to do the important things."
Johnson was one of the few freshman to play in their first season under head coach Jim Grobe. He played in 11 games and made five starts. Johnson finished the season with 31 tackles and a pair of pass breakups. He has had a good camp so far and will be a key piece of what many think will be a strong Demon Deacon defense.
The Deacons practiced twice on Wednesday at the Doc Martin Practice Complex on campus. The morning session lasted about an hour and a half and the afternoon session lasted an hour and a half before being cut short by an afternoon thunderstorm. Wake will practice Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on campus and then go through its final two-a-day practice on Friday.
