Our
next player spotlight comes from Valley View high school star WR Dominique Johnson. Johnson has already given
his verbal commitment to play for the UCLA Bruins. Here’s what he had to
say.
PrepCa.com:
What were your official stats from last season?
Dominique: I had 41 receptions for 590
yards and 10 touchdowns.
PrepCa.com: What is your official
height, weight, bench, squat, clean and 40?
Dominique: I'm 6'3 1/2, 203 pounds, I
bench 235, Squat 315, Clean 265, and a 4.6 40.
PrepCa.com: Who is currently recruiting
you? Any early offers yet? As of right
now who would be your top 5?
Dominique: I was being recruited
by Oregon State,
Arizona
State, Notre Dame, Colorado,
Duke, and many others but I have made my decision on where I will attend. UCLA
is it for me.
PrepCa.com:
What is your greatest football memory?
Dominique: My greatest football memory
was my sophomore year when my team was fighting for a playoff spot. We were down
by 4 with about 1 minute left in the last regular season game. We needed a
win to get in. I returned the kickoff about 45 yards to set us up. I caught a
couple passes to give us 1st downs. We ended up on the goal line and coach chose
to throw the fade. I caught it and we won the game.
PrepCa.com: What are you doing to
prepare for next season?
Dominique: Right now I am lifting
weights and working out trying to condition myself and get physically stronger
and faster.
PrepCa.com: What
are your goals for this upcoming season?
Dominique: My goals are to play hard
every play and make myself and everyone else around me better. Also to go over
1,000 yards and lead my team to a CIF championship!
PrepCa.com: What is your strength as a
football player?
Dominique: My ability to use my
body and go get the ball is something I'm very good at. I have nice, big, soft
hands.
PrepCa.com: What is
your weakness as a football player?
Dominique: I need to get my feet moving
quicker. That's been my weakness.
PrepCa.com: Who are some teammates that
people need to watch for?
Dominique: Watch for Mathew Lee,
Travis King, Mike Hernandez, Eli and Ricky Maefau, Shawn Borden, and Mencil
Coates
PrepCa.com: What
teammate do you really respect the most and why?
Dominique: Mathew Lee because he
brings competition to the field and he always pushes himself to the limit.
PrepCa.com: Which program do
you respect the most?
Dominique: I respect our program
because regardless of how low we may drop, you can always count on us to come
back together. Together we will...
PrepCa.com: What is the best piece of
advice you have ever gotten? Who did you get it from?
Dominique: When you're on or off the
field, if you really want something, go take it. Coach Barlage told me that and
it has helped me.
PrepCa.com: Who has been the most
influential person in your life? Why?
Dominique: My mother because she has
pushed me to be what I am today. She has gone through the trouble of raising me
and has always been here for me.
PrepCa.com: Who is your favorite
professional athlete?
Dominique: Terrell Owens
PrepCa.com: What can we
expect from your team this season?
Dominique: Expect us to come out and
play hard every play. Effort and details are our main priorities right now.
PrepCa.com: What are your
goals as far as playing football in college?
Dominique: I want to come in and
make an impact on the team I play for. I want to lead my team to victory and
championships.
PrepCa.com:
What can you bring to a college program?
Dominique: I can bring an athlete
with size and great hands and also an intelligent young man who will focus on
making the program better.
PrepCa.com: What is your favorite thing
about the game of football?
Dominique: The competition football
brings is amazing. Also I love the fact that if you want something you have the
power to go get it.
PrepCa.com: What has been the most
surprising part of the whole recruiting
process? What advice
would you give to athletes who get recruited in the future?
Dominique: Everything comes at you
so fast. It’s hard to stay focused because you start thinking ahead of yourself.
I would tell athletes that grades are the most important thing. Focus in the
classroom and stay away from things that will get you in trouble.
PrepCa.com: How do you feel when you
see your name listed as one of the top
prospects in the entire country?
Dominique: I feel like all
my hard work is beginning to pay off. I feel proud of what I've done and it
makes me want to keep pushing to be a better player.
PrepCa.com: What was it about UCLA that
made you want to commit to them so
soon in the recruiting process?
Dominique: I love the campus
and the weather is pretty much nice throughout the
entire year. I have a
great bond with coaches there and they make me feel very comfortable. I wanted
to stay close to home and UCLA has been the school I've been dreaming about
attending since I first began playing sports. I feel like I will fit in the
system very well at UCLA.
PrepCa.com
would really like to thank Dominique for his time. We wish him and all of his teammates at
Valley View the best of luck this season.
We also wish him the best in his future at UCLA.