Aggie Football Q&A: Buddy Johnson

Senior linebacker Buddy Johnson, who led the Aggies in tackles in 2019, sat down for this week's Aggie Football Q&A. 

What is your first football memory?
I remember playing quarterback when I was younger, maybe seven or six years old playing flag [football]. We were winning with about 15 seconds left and the other team needed the ball back. I remember my coach telling me to get the ball and just run backwards, run sideline-to-sideline. I said "hut", I just ran backwards, sideline to sideline, guys were chasing me. I didn't understand what was going on because I was so young and I was just trying to go the other way to score. That was a funny memory when I was younger.
 
What are your goals for this season?
My goal is to continue to be a leader. I know it's very important right now for me to be a leader. It's really hard right now, there's a lot going on in the world, and I feel like I can do my part by being a leader and just going out and doing it. I just continue to make sure that guys are on the right track and everyone is accountable for each other.
 
How would you describe yourself as a leader?
I'm the type of guy that leads by example, if I preach it and teach it. I lead in the way that I go out and handle my business, I clock in every day. Once I clock in I'm fired up and ready to go. I feel like if I can bring high energy then it will be contagious to others on the team.
 
What do you like to do away from football?
I like to chill with my roommates and friends, sometimes I do yoga because it's beneficial for the body. I play Call of Duty, 2K and Madden all the time. I'm top-five on the team, I don't mess around. My biggest competition is probably Ryan McCollum, he is pretty good. Connor Blumrick is good, and Chris Russell.
 
What was your favorite sports team growing up?
I've always been a LeBron James fan, no matter where he went I was going with him. I liked the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and now the Lakers. I've always loved him, the way he goes about his business on and off the court is great to see.
 
What are you like on gameday?
I'm chill to start with, but as it gets closer to the game I get more fired up. The closer it gets to kick-off I come back down to normal and focus in on what's important.
 
What is on your pregame playlist?
I have to have music on game day .I listen to a lot of rap music. I listen to Lil Baby, NBA YoungBoy, Moneybagg Yo, stuff like that to get me fired up. I try not to play slow jams on game day.
 
What are you looking forward to most this season?
I'm looking forward to seeing how this team is going to respond to everything that is going on in the world. There is going to be adversity in life and bumps in the road, I'm ready to see how this team will get over those bumps and handle those times. I'm fired up about this season and I'm ready to go. It's another opportunity for this team and for myself.