John Plasencia was forced to end his playing career due to injuries following his redshirt sophomore season in 2011.
2011: Saw time in nine games, primarily on special teams.
2010: Played in four games.
2009: Did not see action ... Named team's offensive practice player of the week vs. Indiana.
High School: Ranked 86th nationally among all tight ends by SuperPrep and 91st nationally by ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. ... 2008 second-team AP all-state selection ... Two-time Tampa Tribune first-team All-County team (2007 and '08) ... St. Petersburg Times first-team All-County choice in 2008 and an honorable mention pick in 2007 ... Played for USA Football's Junior National Team (first-ever) in summer of 2009 ... Earned a spot on the Junior World Championship All-Tournament first team after catching five passes for 68 yards in three USA wins ... In the championship game against Canada, a 41-3 victory, caught two passes for 36 yards, which included a 26-yard TD grab ... Classmate Brian Smith also played on that national team ... Named the Tigers' Offensive Playmaker of the Year in 2008 after earning the team's Defensive Playmaker of the Year honors in 2007 ... Caught 23 passes for 302 yards and a TD in 2008 after notching 19 receptions for 220 yards his junior season ... 140 tackles and eight sacks in two seasons while playing defensive end ... Against team's No. 7-ranked team, totaled five catches for 67 yards, the game-tying TD and two-point conversion, while totaling eight tackles (three TFL's), and three pass deflections on defense ... Tigers went 6-5 (district runners-up), 5-5 and 6-4 his three seasons, respectively ... Nominated to play in Hillsborough County East-West All-Star game ... Hails from the same prep program as former NU cornerback Chris Martin (and Chicago Cubs' manager Lou Piniella) ... NHS, Student Council treasurer, Honor Roll, Jesuit's Outstanding Underclassmen of the Year Award, National Merit Commended Student and National Merit Hispanic Scholar ... Also lettered in basketball (center) and was named the team's MVP ... Team captain for both football and basketball ... Tabbed the Tampa Bay Basketball Coaches Association as well as a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete ... Jesuit's Most Outstanding Student-Athlete and Larion J. Eliot Award recipient (given for spiritual leadership) ... Coached by Joe Ross.
Personal: Born John Scott Plasencia ... Son of Lou and Jenny Plasencia ... Brother, Nick, played football at Harvard ... Economics major and business institutions minor.
The Plasencia File
Q: Name five favorite songs (and artist) on your I-Pod:
A: "Knee Deep" by Zac Brown Band, "Good Directions" by Billy Currington, "Where I'm From" by John Michael Montgomery, "Summertime" by Kenny Chesney, "Southern Voice" by Tim McGraw
Q: If you could dine with anyone from any period in history, who would it be and why?
A: Jesus Christ.
Q: What is the greatest lesson in life that you have learned?
A: Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.
Q: Something people would be surprised to know about me is:
A: I really like to go fishing for bass every time I go home.
Q: My favorite place to visit is and why?
A: Tampa, Florida. It's home.
Q: Which current NU football player is the biggest jokester on the team and why?
A: Brett Nagel. He never stops messing with people.
Q: My favorite thing about NU is and why?
A: Great education and proximity to Chicago.
Q: Best part about being a Northwestern football player is:
A: Being a part of our football family.
Q: Describe Coach Fitzgerald in five words or less:
A: A fiery, motivated leader
Q: Describe your position coach in five words or less:
A: A funny, knowledgeable, approachable coach
Q: Most humbling experience:
A: Fall camp my freshman year.
Q: What do you consider to be your greatest achievement and why?
A: Being able to play Big Ten football and get a great education at Northwestern.
Q: The best book I have ever read is and why?
A: Lone Survivor. It shows the effects of commitment and persistence, and is very entertaining.
Q: The person that inspires me the most is:
A: My family.
Q: When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be:
A: Warren Sapp.
Q: My favorite pregame ritual is:
A: Taping my wrists with Drew Moulton and Brendan Barber.
Q: My favorite food is:
A: Takin' Care of Business sandwich from BAT 17 in Evanston.
Q: My favorite thing about playing at Ryan Field is:
A: Singing the fight song with the band and students after a win.
Q: Best thing about Northwestern is:
A: My friends.
Q: My ultimate SportsCenter highlight would be:
A: Making a one-handed catch and then running over seven defenders to score the game-winning touchdown in the Rose Bowl.
Q: My favorite television show is and why?
A: Entourage. It reminds me of my own life.
Q: My football-related superstition is:
A: Eating the exact same thing the night before every game.
Q: If the Big Ten expands in the future, pick one school you'd like to see added and why?
A: Notre Dame.
Q: Which FORMER NU football student-athlete has had the most impact on your Wildcat career and why?
A: Josh Rooks. He was a great friend and a really good example for me of hard work and dedication. He also taught me a lot about playing tight end.
| PARTICIPATION | ||
| Season | Games | Other Statistics |
| 2010 | 4 | No Other Statistics |
| 2011 | 9 | No Other Statistics |
| Career | 13 | No Other Statistics |