Ryan Johnson is a Junior who attends Cartersville High School. He is a multi-sport athlete who is determined in the sports he plays. He is dependable, hardworking, and very deserving. This past summer, he committed to UGA for baseball.

What got you into baseball? At what age did you start playing? 

What got me into baseball was watching my cousin play and playing with my dad in the backyard when I was young. It was fun; I could get dirty and not get in trouble. I always looked forward to playing the sport.

What made you know baseball was your sport?

What made me know baseball was my sport was when I was 11 or 12, and I just remember thinking, wow, this is just what I want to do. It’s so much fun, it’s competitive, and so many people are there to support you. You can fail and still be successful.

Who inspires you the most? Who do you look up to?

The person who inspires me the most is my sister. She didn’t go to college for a sport, but her drive and determination are unmatched. She got bit by a dog, had over 100 stitches, and was able to graduate and not get behind. She was successful and did everything she could to pass while going through that.

Are there any short-term goals you would like to accomplish in the next few months?

A short-term goal I would like to accomplish is being able to help someone who wants to play the sport. Whether it’s trying out or just wanting to play, I want to be able to get them to play and help them love the sport.

How have your relationships over the last three years grown? And in what ways?

My relationships have gone up and down. There are definitely sacrifices, I lost some friends, but I gained some too that I couldn’t be more thankful to have in my life. I have grown close to so many people through baseball and God; being able to see them as much as I do has helped me grow close to them.

How is dealing with two sports at once? What made you want to kick?

The good thing about high school is that baseball and football are in 2 different seasons. So it’s not too difficult; I get home late pretty often, it’s fun being able to experience what the football team does. I wanted to kick it because I talked to my dad about it, and we thought it would be fun.

How does it feel to be a UGA commit as a junior?

It feels pretty surreal. Ever since I was little, I always wanted to go to college for baseball. And I LOVE the University of Georgia, it’s such a great place. And to be able to have this opportunity at such a young age is still crazy to me. It’s just all thanks to the people who pushed me and helped me get there, and mainly God.

Although you have two more years until college, what long-term goals do you plan to achieve while at UGA? (Sport or school related)

My long-term goal is to have good grades at UGA, find myself around the right people, and hopefully become an MLB draft pick. But my big goal is to hopefully get to teach the game to someone while I’m there or be able to get someone to fall in love with the game. And I want to be able to graduate with a degree in teaching.