Jabari Johnson: Leader of the Backs
Jabari Johnson's collegiate career began at the University of Washington in 1997, but he was forced to redshirt. Johnson was injured right out of the gate the following year and saw little action. That's when he decided to transfer to UNLV.
Now the senior heads into fall practice as the number one tailback in the depth chart. In spite of rushing for only 58 yards on 17 carries in limited time last year, Johnson says that he is ready to contribute to the Rebel offense this season.
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Jabari Johnson #32
5-11 200 SR
Running Back
Rebel Net: How are things working out this year as compared to last year?
Jabari Johnson: Things are going great so far this year. I've been in the system for a year now and while I have done that I have learned alot. To already know the system, that gives me that much more of an edge.
Jabari Johnson: Things are going great so far this year. I've been in the system for a year now and while I have done that I have learned alot. To already know the system, that gives me that much more of an edge.
Rebel Net: You had some injury problems early in the preseason last year and it took a little while to get over with. How are you feeling now?
Jabari Johnson: I'm feeling great. I worked out even harder this year than last year. I feel more than ready to compete and be ready to play this year.
Jabari Johnson: I'm feeling great. I worked out even harder this year than last year. I feel more than ready to compete and be ready to play this year.
Rebel Net: What do you think about the program here, especially the offseason conditioning, compared to where you were before (University of Washington)?
Jabari Johnson: There's no comparison. The offseason program at the University of Washington was nowhere near where UNLV is now. The strength coach here, Mark Philippi, he knows exactly what he is doing and what he is preparing us for. We have a tough schedule in front of us and is preparing us for it.
Jabari Johnson: There's no comparison. The offseason program at the University of Washington was nowhere near where UNLV is now. The strength coach here, Mark Philippi, he knows exactly what he is doing and what he is preparing us for. We have a tough schedule in front of us and is preparing us for it.
Rebel Net: It appears that you are a very close knit group. Do you get that feeling too?
Jabari Johnson: Oh yeah. We all worked out hard together over the summer. It just brought us all closer together. As you can see, we are a tight knit group.
Rebel Net: What do you think about some of the newcomers? You've got some redshirt freshman and even some true freshman who are looking like they are going to get some playing time.
Jabari Johnson: They are a great group of guys. They've got great work ethic and have worked really hard and it has showed out here on the field. It also pushes me along and I push them too. The more I do, the more they are going to do - it's the domino effect. It will make us all better.
Rebel Net: What about the competition level and talent level between the Mountain West Conference and the Pac Ten?
Jabari Johnson: It's the same. You might have your USC's, your Washington's, and your UCLA's that might tend to pull in more well known athletes, but that is because of the conference's reputation. Those teams are always rated in the Top 10 or Top 25, where in the Mountain West, our teams are ranked at about number 25. So they tend to get some of the big name athletes, but what people don't know is that we have people who are more hard working - people that want it more. That's because they didn't get a chance to go to the big name schools. The Mountain West Conference has put teams in multiple bowl games and we win them all. It proves that we can compete with the best of them. We beat Arkansas in a bowl game last year, and Colorado State did the same thing (beating Louisville).
Jabari Johnson: Oh yeah. We all worked out hard together over the summer. It just brought us all closer together. As you can see, we are a tight knit group.
Rebel Net: What do you think about some of the newcomers? You've got some redshirt freshman and even some true freshman who are looking like they are going to get some playing time.
Jabari Johnson: They are a great group of guys. They've got great work ethic and have worked really hard and it has showed out here on the field. It also pushes me along and I push them too. The more I do, the more they are going to do - it's the domino effect. It will make us all better.
Rebel Net: What about the competition level and talent level between the Mountain West Conference and the Pac Ten?
Jabari Johnson: It's the same. You might have your USC's, your Washington's, and your UCLA's that might tend to pull in more well known athletes, but that is because of the conference's reputation. Those teams are always rated in the Top 10 or Top 25, where in the Mountain West, our teams are ranked at about number 25. So they tend to get some of the big name athletes, but what people don't know is that we have people who are more hard working - people that want it more. That's because they didn't get a chance to go to the big name schools. The Mountain West Conference has put teams in multiple bowl games and we win them all. It proves that we can compete with the best of them. We beat Arkansas in a bowl game last year, and Colorado State did the same thing (beating Louisville).
Rebel Net: Speaking of Arkansas, what do you expect down there? We know you went down to Mississippi last year - it was pretty hot, pretty humid, and the fans were pretty into it. But at Arkansas, it will be hotter, wetter, and the fans will be more into it.
Jabari Johnson: We got a little taste of what their fans might be like in the bowl game. We don't care about the fans, we don't care about anything else. We are the only ones out there on that field and we are not going to be intimidated. We beat them once and we can beat them again. We proved to the nation that we can play with the best of them. The humidity isn't going to be much worse than in practice. When we work out, it's at 109 degrees and we have some humidity this time of year. We practice in this every day. We will be totally prepared for it.
Rebel Net: In most corners, you are considered to be a Top 25 team or a fringe Top 25 team. Do you guys talk about that alot?
Jabari Johnson: We talk about it once in a while, the reason being is to let everyone know we don't want to be a Top 25 or a fringe Top 25 team and come out losing our first few games. We're here for a purpose. We are here for a reason. We are here because we worked hard, and now it is up to us bring up the intensity level and keep on pushing on to become Top 10 or Top 5.
Rebel Net: Tell us a little bit about your experience at Washington.
Jabari Johnson: I redshirted my first year and in my second year I played. Right before our game with ASU, I broke my ankle at practice. I came in a few games here and there, but that was pretty much it. Right after that (Washington head coach) Jim Lambright was fired. Then they brought in Rick Neuheisel - things were looking on the brighter side, but then he got caught in a recruiting scandal. They took away 11 scholarships. They figured out a way to pull those scholarships. That was by cutting guys that he figured didn't fit into his offensive and defensive scheme. I guess I didn't fit in his scheme and by the blessing of God, I ended up here. One man's trash is another man's treasure.
Rebel Net: How did you end up at UNLV?
Jabari Johnson: Word got out that I was transferring and Coach Dalquist, who was the offensive coordinator at the time, found out and gave me a call. At the time, I didn't have the slightest idea that Coach Robinson was here. At that time, I was set to transfer to Colorado, but when I found out Coach Robinson was at UNLV, that was it. He coached my idols - Marcus Allen and Charles White.
Rebel Net: Three years ago, we couldn't win, we had trouble competing. The distance you guys have come in such a short time is amazing - it's almost a minor miracle. Did you guys believe that you would get to this point so quickly?
Jabari Johnson: We as a team believed it from the very beginning because he (Coach Robinson) forced us to believe it. He brought in a great staff and brought in things that this school is not accustomed to - the training tables, the facilities, and the work ethic that he has instilled in us. You've got to believe in a man that has been in so many Rose Bowls, a man that has coached great athletes like Keyshawn Johnson - you know he knows what he is talking about, so let's just go out and do it.
Rebel Net: There were times last year when Randy Black was really able to pump up the home crowds. The crowds may not have been the biggest, but it seemed that at times they helped you guys at home.
Jabari Johnson: Definitely, especially the New Mexico game. That was one of the ones we had to win to get to a bowl game. People don't always realize it, but the crowd can keep you in the game. You always need your home crowd, the band and all that. Randy Black was a significant player in that aspect. He was always able to get the crowd up.
Rebel Net: There has been alot of people who are concerned, not about the talent, but about leadership. There was Black, Greer, Turner, Rudolph and Wofford who took a lot of heart with them when they left. Do you see yourself stepping into one of the leadership roles?
Jabari Johnson: Without a doubt. Being an offensive or defensive starter, you have to see yourself as a leader. There's going to be times when you make great plays and the guys will congratulate you for it, but there will be times when you don't make great plays - during those times, the guys still remind you that you can come back and make the great play. But I definitely see myself as a team leader. The true test of a leader is during the games. Can you show up when you are down 14 points and take that attitude that it's on me to get us back in this game and actually do it? I'm not big on being a vocal leader. I'm an action guy. I lead by example. I want to get my teammates hyped by getting it done with my play on the field. That's exactly what I am going to do. I like to call myself the quiet storm. I'm quiet, but very violent when needed.
Rebel Net: Do you have any individual or personal goals coming into the season?
Jabari Johnson: I'm just looking for wins. Personal goals don't mean a hill of beans if you don't win. I'm in this sport to win and get to a bowl game. If you win, your personal stats will reflect that. So I don't worry about the personal stats. As long as I do everything I can to help this team win, everything else will follow.
Rebel Net: Do you have a nickname yet?
Jabari Johnson: Not yet, not really. A lot of the players like to call me (Johnnie) Cochrane for some reason. But when I'm asked questions, I give answers, so sometimes they'll call me The Truth. I give it to you straight, so if I could pick a nickname, that's what it would be.
Jabari Johnson: We got a little taste of what their fans might be like in the bowl game. We don't care about the fans, we don't care about anything else. We are the only ones out there on that field and we are not going to be intimidated. We beat them once and we can beat them again. We proved to the nation that we can play with the best of them. The humidity isn't going to be much worse than in practice. When we work out, it's at 109 degrees and we have some humidity this time of year. We practice in this every day. We will be totally prepared for it.
Rebel Net: In most corners, you are considered to be a Top 25 team or a fringe Top 25 team. Do you guys talk about that alot?
Jabari Johnson: We talk about it once in a while, the reason being is to let everyone know we don't want to be a Top 25 or a fringe Top 25 team and come out losing our first few games. We're here for a purpose. We are here for a reason. We are here because we worked hard, and now it is up to us bring up the intensity level and keep on pushing on to become Top 10 or Top 5.
Rebel Net: Tell us a little bit about your experience at Washington.
Jabari Johnson: I redshirted my first year and in my second year I played. Right before our game with ASU, I broke my ankle at practice. I came in a few games here and there, but that was pretty much it. Right after that (Washington head coach) Jim Lambright was fired. Then they brought in Rick Neuheisel - things were looking on the brighter side, but then he got caught in a recruiting scandal. They took away 11 scholarships. They figured out a way to pull those scholarships. That was by cutting guys that he figured didn't fit into his offensive and defensive scheme. I guess I didn't fit in his scheme and by the blessing of God, I ended up here. One man's trash is another man's treasure.
Rebel Net: How did you end up at UNLV?
Jabari Johnson: Word got out that I was transferring and Coach Dalquist, who was the offensive coordinator at the time, found out and gave me a call. At the time, I didn't have the slightest idea that Coach Robinson was here. At that time, I was set to transfer to Colorado, but when I found out Coach Robinson was at UNLV, that was it. He coached my idols - Marcus Allen and Charles White.
Rebel Net: Three years ago, we couldn't win, we had trouble competing. The distance you guys have come in such a short time is amazing - it's almost a minor miracle. Did you guys believe that you would get to this point so quickly?
Jabari Johnson: We as a team believed it from the very beginning because he (Coach Robinson) forced us to believe it. He brought in a great staff and brought in things that this school is not accustomed to - the training tables, the facilities, and the work ethic that he has instilled in us. You've got to believe in a man that has been in so many Rose Bowls, a man that has coached great athletes like Keyshawn Johnson - you know he knows what he is talking about, so let's just go out and do it.
Rebel Net: There were times last year when Randy Black was really able to pump up the home crowds. The crowds may not have been the biggest, but it seemed that at times they helped you guys at home.
Jabari Johnson: Definitely, especially the New Mexico game. That was one of the ones we had to win to get to a bowl game. People don't always realize it, but the crowd can keep you in the game. You always need your home crowd, the band and all that. Randy Black was a significant player in that aspect. He was always able to get the crowd up.
Rebel Net: There has been alot of people who are concerned, not about the talent, but about leadership. There was Black, Greer, Turner, Rudolph and Wofford who took a lot of heart with them when they left. Do you see yourself stepping into one of the leadership roles?
Jabari Johnson: Without a doubt. Being an offensive or defensive starter, you have to see yourself as a leader. There's going to be times when you make great plays and the guys will congratulate you for it, but there will be times when you don't make great plays - during those times, the guys still remind you that you can come back and make the great play. But I definitely see myself as a team leader. The true test of a leader is during the games. Can you show up when you are down 14 points and take that attitude that it's on me to get us back in this game and actually do it? I'm not big on being a vocal leader. I'm an action guy. I lead by example. I want to get my teammates hyped by getting it done with my play on the field. That's exactly what I am going to do. I like to call myself the quiet storm. I'm quiet, but very violent when needed.
Rebel Net: Do you have any individual or personal goals coming into the season?
Jabari Johnson: I'm just looking for wins. Personal goals don't mean a hill of beans if you don't win. I'm in this sport to win and get to a bowl game. If you win, your personal stats will reflect that. So I don't worry about the personal stats. As long as I do everything I can to help this team win, everything else will follow.
Rebel Net: Do you have a nickname yet?
Jabari Johnson: Not yet, not really. A lot of the players like to call me (Johnnie) Cochrane for some reason. But when I'm asked questions, I give answers, so sometimes they'll call me The Truth. I give it to you straight, so if I could pick a nickname, that's what it would be.
