Bulldog receiver Ricky Johnson gaining confidence heading into season

Mississippi State receiver Ricky Johnson got a brief taste of college football last year as a true freshman. The Georgia native played four games a year ago while maintaining his redshirt and had two catches for nine yards.

This offseason, his name has been mentioned often by coaches and teammates, and that momentum has carried over to training camp. Following Tuesday’s practice session, Johnson met with the media for the first time as a Bulldog:

Q: What were your thoughts on Sunday’s scrimmage?
Johnson: I feel like we did pretty good. I feel like we have to execute more, come out more prepared, more juice, got to be more detailed. Other than that, I felt like we did good. The defense played out of their heads. So I feel like we will be good.

Q: What receiver spots are you working at right now?
Johnson: Right now, we just rotate through. So it’s no set deals yet. Me, Anthony (Evans), Bull (Isaiah Mitchell), all the slots just rotate.

Q: So are you inside and outside?
Johnson: Yes sir, I’m inside and outside.

Q: You got some reps late last year. How much did that help you get used to this level?
Johnson: It really just showed me that it’s a different level. When I got in, I wasn’t scared, I was relaxed. I just went out there and executed, attention to detail. I got mental reps when I wasn’t in the game, so when I got in, it came easy for me. Got a first down, so I felt good about myself.

Q: Going into this season how do you feel about yourself?
Johnson: My confidence is pretty high. I just feel like I’m the guy to throw the ball to when you want a big play, when you want to score or whatever. When you need first downs, I feel like I’m that guy. I’ve been working very hard, extremely hard, and I still have a long way to go. I’m just going to keep working.

Q: Your thoughts on the depth at quarterback?
Johnson: My thoughts, I feel like we’re deep. We’ve got Blake (Shapen), he’s good and can sling it. We got Kamario (Taylor). He should win the Heisman in the next two years, in my opinion. We got Luke (Kromenhoek). He’s from Georgia so we have a good connection. I feel like we are deep.

Q: Lot of new faces in the receiver room this year. In your mind what is different about this year’s group?
Johnson: Last year it was a lot of up and down. I say, selfish, in my opinion. But this year, we have a more complete group. We got have everything you need – route-running, speed, blocking, everybody is fast. We’re more versatile, more as a group.

Q: On the defensive side of the ball, who has caught your attention?
Johnson: On defense, ain’t gonna lie, for me seeing it in this camp, Cyrus (Reyes). I feel like Cyrus took a big step. A lot of people don’t think he did, but I think he did. He worked really hard. We worked in the offseason together. I feel like he took a major step. I hope he gets to play a lot.

Q: You mentioned the defense in the scrimmage. Was it good to see that?
Johnson: It was great to see the defense play that good this year because the defense last year wasn’t so good. But it’s a different year and you move on from last year. I feel like we got a lot of people, got a lot of depth on defense. So rotate them in, get them in and they will execute.

Q: Lining up against them, what is the biggest difference for the defense this year?
Johnson: The biggest difference this year, I feel like they are working more as a team. They communicate more. They’re checking more and they’re not playing for themselves. They’re playing for the whole team and they’re just trying to do their job on the field. Defense is different. Somebody can do their job on one side of the field and it’s good, but on the other side of the field is bad. I feel like they are all communicating together and it’s making the overall defense good as a team.

Q: Are you seeing that on offense, too?
Johnson: Yes sir. We’re trying to get off and rolling. We got to add the ball. It takes everybody getting out there.

Q: How does it make you feel when your quarterback talks good about you?
Johnson: It make me feel good inside. It makes me smile and be even more confident. It makes me trust in him and I know he can trust in me.

Q: Blake Shapen thinks he has a stronger arm this year. Have you seen that?
Johnson: Oh yeah. Blake can sling it. He had a couple of deep balls today.