TUSCALOOSA | Rashad Johnson was back in the spotlight for the reasons he prefers on Wednesday afternoon.

Johnson, a defensive back and 2007 team captain for the University of Alabama football team, has received more publicity than all of his teammates combined over the past month because of a disorderly conduct arrest on Feb. 23. Instead of discussing that, Johnson — a senior from Sulligent — spent his time talking about his on-the-field activities after Wednesday’s practice.

“I definitely believe I’m a leader on defense,” Johnson said. “My approach is going to be the same as last year, but it will be different, too. There will be less of me having to tell [teammates] what to do and more of them knowing what to do. You can really tell a difference in the second year of Coach [Nick] Saban’s system.”

Johnson was asked a couple of questions about his arrest, a case which was essentially wrapped up earlier this month when he agreed to an apology and community service in return for the dismissal of charges. He did not answer any questions on the matter.

“I released a statement at the time and you will have to refer to that,” Johnson said.

Saban has already designated Johnson as one of the leaders of an experience-thin 2007 team in previous press briefings.

“Rashad Johnson is a fine person, one of the leaders in our peer group,” Saban said earlier this month. “He has affected more players on this team in a positive way. He’ a fine student. I would be very pleased if my children had the character of Rashad.”

Saban would also be pleased if more of his players had been as productive as Johnson. As a junior, he started all 13 games, making 94 total tackles and intercepting a team-best six passes.

Johnson said his goal for this season was to be a more aggressive player near the line of scrimmage and in run support.

“I’ve bulked up some,” Johnson said. “I’m at about 192 [pounds] right now. I played at 180 last year.

“I want to be a more physical player. I think I did a great job on coverage last year as far as ranging side-to-side, but I feel like I can do more coming up and meeting the ball carrier.

“That’s why I am looking forward to the first scrimmage [on Saturday]. We want to see where we are and this [scrimmage] will be the first time we have tackled since the bowl game.”

At least that’s true for most of the players, Johnson joked.

“Jimmy Johns loves to hit,” he said when asked about the newly-converted linebacker. “We have to tell him to tone it down some times because he is out there knocking people to the ground and we aren’t in tackling drills yet.”

Johnson said that a change in titles that made defensive backs coach Kirby Smart the new defensive coordinator, with Kevin Steele now listed as the associate head coach and head defensive coach, had made little on-the-field difference.

“Nothing is any different,” Johnson said. “It’s exactly the same. They still yell at us just as much when we make mistakes. But we aren’t making as many mistakes. We are a lot more confident than we were at this time last year, when everything was new.”

ONE IMPORTANT factor in spring practice is the emergence of new faces. One redshirt freshman walk-on who earned praise from a teammate on Wednesday was wide receiver Sam Snider of Norcross, Ga. Snider wears No. 45 on the Crimson Tide’s spring roster.

“He may be the most consistent receiver out there so far,” said senior flanker Will Oakley. “He’s really been impressive as a slot receiver, a possession-type guy.”

Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil.hurt@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0225.