TUCSON, Ariz.--- ArizonaWildcats.com sat down with wide receiver Johnny Jackson this week and spoke about how he deals with being a student-athlete having to balance both school and football. Head coach Rich Rodriguez, linebacker Tre Tyler, defensive lineman Jeff Worthy and senior safety Will Parks also spoke with the media after Wednesday's practice.
Q: What is your major/minor?
A: My major is general studies and my minor is sociology.
Q: Describe your typical daily routine.
A: I wake up, go to class, I have two classes a day on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. Then I come to practice and go to meetings.
Q: How has being a student-athlete helped you manage your time in everyday life?
A: It has helped me a lot. It is definitely going to help me when it comes to the real world when you have to have a job and then come home and stuff like that.
Q: What do you plan to do after you graduate?
A: I am not quite sure yet. I would like to get into public administration I think.
Q: What is your favorite class?
A: I like all of the AFAS classes I have taken here.
Q: What is your least favorite class?
A: I don’t like math. I tried math classes my freshman year and it didn’t work out the way I planned.
Q: What is your class schedule during the week?
A: I have two classes on Tuesday and Thursdays.
Q: What is your favorite food to have for breakfast?
A: I like grits.
Q: In your opinion, what is the most important thing about having the title of “student-athlete”?
A: It definitely helps with time management. I think that is a big deal for being a student-athlete. We have to go to class and we have to work on the field.
Q: Where is the best place for you to get your school work done?
A: I like to be in the privacy of my own home with the doors locked. I am not really into the library, I like to be at home.
Q: What do you like to do in your time off?
A: I like to chill and watch TV. I am into different shows. Empire is one of my favorite shows.
Q: What is your pump up song on game day?
A: I like “Ain’t Nothing But a G thing” by Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre
Q: Favorite spot to eat in Tucson?
A: I like Bobo’s
Q: What is your number one goal for your senior year?
A: I want to finish out strong. Hopefully, win a national championship and I would like build relationships with my teammates.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez
On the focus of the team this week…
“I’d like to think they’re focused no matter who we play. The conference games always carry some more importance because your first goal is always to win the league. Our guys have worked hard to be in good shape and sometimes teams play into shape and I think ours have been in shape since the first game.”
On Jeff Worthy…
“He is healthier. He has been battling injuries his entire career and now he can be more physical. We have challenged him to be more physical because in an odd front defense those three guys up front are getting double teamed a lot.”
On defensive pressure…
“I never get as much as I like. For us we are normally a five man rush so I would like to get more. Our last game was better than the first game though. We need to get more hits on the quarterback.”
On Derrick Turituri...
“He is active and he’s built like Scooby (Wright). They play the same way and he’s a tough guy. He could be one of our better pass rushers but we haven’t been able to afford to put him there because we don’t have a lot of experience at linebacker. He can play at least two of the linebacker positions.”
Redshirt freshman linebacker Tre Tyler
On being a young guy and a walk-on taking on a big role…
"I feel like I was ready for this since I got here. I am here and I am ready to contribute to the team."
Senior defensive lineman Jeff Worthy
On facing Northern Arizona on Saturday…
"I think they are going to come out and play us hard, every team comes out and plays hard. I think NAU passes the ball really well and they get out in the trenches. They run the ball outside pretty well. We just have to do our job and take care of business."
Senior safety Will Parks
On being in shape for the season..
"I definitely think that being in shape has helped us be successful. We're coming off a two-month summer grind, two months of summer training and two months of brutal work. There are a lot of things there that get us prepared for the season. That
