Alabama Softball Newcomer Q&A: Jenna Johnson
1/29/2020 1:32:00 PM | Softball
Heading into the 2020 season, we will be posting Q&A's with each of the six newcomers on this year's Alabama softball team. The second Q&A is with freshman outfielder Jenna Johnson, a Franklin, Tenn., native who played in the 2019 PGF All-American game.
How did you get your start in softball?
"My parents were the biggest influence. My mom grew up around sports and my dad played almost everything. He didn't go to college for sports, but he played almost every sport you could think of: basketball, baseball, football. They just tested me out in all of them when I was younger. I played soccer, volleyball and basketball but I just stuck with softball.
"Softball was my first love. I loved the competition. My dad knew so much about the game and he invested so much time in me. That time spent together and the bond with my dad helped push my love for the sport."
When did softball move from a hobby to a more serious pursuit?
"My eighth-grade year I played on the Franklin Flames. We were just a local team. Then I got asked to play for the Tennessee Fury organization. That was a big step up. That was also when I started to get a lot of looks and interest from college coaches."
Was playing in college a goal for you?
"It was always a goal of mine to play in college. Our coaches had always instilled that in us. They had a team before us that had a couple girls go to college for softball, so it has always kind of been a dream since day one. I knew that I wanted to stay in the SEC. That had always been my dream. I grew up watching SEC softball. I knew a southern college was where I wanted to be."
Was location the biggest factor in narrowing down your initial college choices?
"Being an SEC school was one of them. I didn't realize the distance thing was going to be a big factor until after I committed. I realized I made the right choice by staying closer to home. It's only three and a half hours away. I was looking at Florida and LSU, but my mom kind of pushed staying closer. Tennessee and Alabama were my top two when going to camps."
What was your first experience like at Alabama?
"My eighth-grade year I did a camp here, which is around the time I did all of my camps in the SEC. I dislocated my kneecap during a game in Rhoads Stadium. At that point, I remember thinking that my chances here were over. I went to rehab and went through it again. [Head Coach Patrick] Murphy kept in contact with me throughout the process, which I remember thinking was really cool. For him to keep up with me pushed Alabama for me. When he asked me to come on a visit, I realized that Alabama was still in the picture and I knew at that point it was my dream school."
What else about Alabama convinced you this was your top choice?
"I loved the campus. I wanted a college town since I'm not a big-city person. I got to visit on a day where there was class, so getting to see the campus life and the atmosphere and then getting to come into the stadium and see the facilities really attracted me to Alabama.
"I visited Lipscomb and Tennessee, but I knew that Alabama was where I wanted to go after talking to the coaches on my official visit and getting to know them better and their expectations of their players. I knew these were the kind of coaches I wanted to play for. They could see the same thing. They were on board with it."
When did you officially commit?
"It was couple weeks after the official visit that they offered me. I called back the day after I was offered and committed. It was the summer before my sophomore year that I committed."
Was it a relief to get the process over relatively early or did it add any pressure playing as an Alabama commit?
"Other people started to recognize me as the Alabama girl because I was going to be a sophomore having that title or target on my back, I guess you could say. It upped the level of competition and I had to work harder. People think you have to work hard to commit, but the real work starts after you commit because that's when everyone's out to get you. Playing against other teams that knew who I was, I had to work harder."
What's the biggest change you've had to adjust to moving from high school to college?
"Time management is something everyone kind of warns you about when coming here. Managing classes with softball and workouts and all of it is definitely the hardest part. My travel coach always preached to us, you shouldn't be nervous if you're prepared. That was something that I always kept in the back of my mind - to always get ahead and always be prepared for whatever is coming up. That's been one of my motivations this first year."
What about the difference on the field?
"It's been more upbeat and faster paced then I've been used to. I guess it's just higher intensity on the field. Especially playing with these girls and being a freshman. They have been so helpful and invested in all of us. The team has been awesome."
What was it like walking on the field in uniform for the first time during the fall?
"It was a dream come true. That day was a time to soak it all in, but now it's here. I'm on Team 24. I am a part of the Alabama softball family. It was cool to realize it and take a step back and see that I'm here. It's going to be a fun season and getting to put on that uniform is a cool thing."
What are some of your goals heading into the 2020 season?
"For team goals, we want to win the SEC, we want to win the SEC tournament and we want to win the national championship. We want to do things no other teams have ever done. But basically, we want to go out there and win. Individually, I want to find my role on the team and be the best that I can at it. Whatever that may be, I want to be the best at it."
What advice would you give a young player who wants to play in college?
"Don't take any moment for granted. Always outwork yourself. You may think you're working hard enough, but someone else is always working so push yourself. It starts at an early age. I have a sister that also plays softball and I am trying to teach her that you have to want it and to push yourself. Keep your end goal and focus in mind. Set goals and work towards them."
