Ramone Johnson is going to be his own person and he's willing to work for success.

The offensive lineman from Morgan Park High School in Chicago, Ill., said he will rely on his work ethic at the college level.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder, who signed a national letter of intent to play football for Tennessee on Feb. 1, talked about his motivation to outwork his opponents in this GVX Q and A.

Q: What was your most memorable moment from an official visit?

A: The southern hospitality at Tennessee. Everybody made me feel so comfortable. It was kind of like my home away from home. It is my home away from home. Everybody made me feel like I was already a part of the family. That was very important.

Q: What was your least favorite part about the recruiting process?

A: Really I wouldn't have a least favorite part. On my official visits you're supposed to have fun. It can get stressful because it was kind of the end of the recruiting process and I knew I was going to have to sign with somebody. But when I was down there having fun and getting to know people I X'd the whole decision factor out.

Q: Who has been the most significant influence on your football career?

A: Myself. I did all the work myself. People helped me with my technique and everything, but it was up to me to workout. Really it's all about repetition. Nobody can make you work but yourself. I look at it like I want to be the best. In order to be the best you've got to work. Whenever I finish working I know there's always somebody still working when I finish working trying to do the things I'm doing. That gives me the motivation because I just might have to meet that person that's still working later on down the line.

Q: Does it bother you when you see other teammates not working as hard?

A: It does because they're my teammates and I want to be a part of a winning program. But if it's somebody that plays my position and doesn't work hard enough it doesn't bother me at all because I look at it like if they're not working hard enough, when it's time to play they won't be playing. I'll be the person playing.

Q: Do you model your game after anyone?

A: No. I'm just Ramone Johnson. Orlando Pace is a good player, but I'm just Ramone Johnson. I want someone to want to be like me one day. It's just me. I don't want to be like anyone else. I want to do my own thing. When I get there I can always say I always did my own thing and never wanted to be like anyone. I just wanted to be Ramone Johnson.

Q: When did you know you would have a future in football?

A: I'd say when I got my first letter my junior year. I found out I could go to school for free. I ran with it. It was kind of like a reality check. I just knew I'd have to start working and get serious about it.

Q: What are your goals for yourself at UT?

A: To be academically set and to go in my freshman year and do well and get that good start. I'd like to get a 3-point GPA and start off good my freshman year. I want to keep doing well but your freshman year is kind of your most important year. Long term, go to the NFL and work hard and make it to the next level.

Q: Who is your favorite athlete?

A: Michael Jordan. I used to play basketball in grammar school. He was a role model. He was the best. He was a big person I looked up to. It was fun seeing him play in person. I always watched him on TV but it was nice to see him in person.

Q: Being a Chicago native, what has it been like to see the Chicago Bulls struggle since Jordan left?

A: They're garbage now. In 1995-96 I was a die-hard Bulls fan. This is a White Sox town. The Bulls are really nobodies in Chicago. It was great to see them (White Sox) win the World Series. Nobody was really expecting it. They just kind of came out of nowhere.

Q: What athletic moment are you most proud of?

A: I kicked a game winning extra point at the Prep Bowl Championship this year. It was at Soldier Field. We never really kicked extra points on my team. We always went for the two point conversion. I kicked off but we always went for two. It was overtime and it was 13-13. They scored but they missed their extra point so we were like, ‘Why would we go for two and risk not getting it and have to go into double overtime. We might as well kick the extra point and win.' When it was good it was electrifying. I knew I was going to make it. The only way I wouldn't have made it is if someone blocked it.