Leadership role is ‘very natural’ for Theo Johnson

At the end of the 2022 season, the Penn State football team said goodbye to several of the team leaders. Those players were in leadership roles over the past few seasons. Now, in 2023, James Franklin and his coaching staff need a new group to step up. So, earlier this month Penn State announced their team captains for the 2023 season. TE Theo Johnson was one of the players listed as a captain this season. After Brenton Strange declared for the NFL draft, not only will Theo get his chance to be a full-time starter, but he will also have a new leadership role this fall.

The leadership role is ‘very natural’ for Theo Johnson

Recently, Theo Johnson was on Next Up with Adam Breneman to discuss his thoughts on fall camp. As the two continue their discussion the topic of embracing leadership emerges.

When speaking about Coach Franklin‘s message Johnson said, “We had a meeting right there in that room there, at the beginning of the offseason. Coach Franklin said that this is an area that we need to improve in. Obviously, we are losing career leaders Sean Clifford, Jay-Suth (Jonathan Sutherland), Tig (Ji’Ayir Brown), and PJ (Mustipher) guys that have been captains for multiple years that are gone. ”

While replacing those leaders won’t be easy, Theo Johnson is more than willing to step up in a leadership role.

Johnson continued, “I’ve always personally felt like I’ve had that within me. That is something that I feel like a gift I was given, as leadership has always came very natural. So, that’s an area that I’ve tried to step out of my comfort zone a little bit more and work on that. And I think it’s been a really good transition into that role. I feel like the guys really respect me in that way so I think it’s been good.”

Theo Johnson is a candidate for a breakout star and looks to have his most successful season yet with the Penn State football team.

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