Heading into training camp later this month, the Jets have nearly 20 players with college roots on teams now playing in the Big Ten Conference (here's looking at you Alijah Vera-Tucker who laid down pancake blocks for USC when it was in the Pac-12, but is now part of the Big Ten).

At the middle of the much-improved offensive line is C Joe Tippmann of Wisconsin. One of the newest additions is WR Tyler Johnson, who grew up in Minneapolis and stayed home to star for Minnesota. They are only two of a contingent on offense that includes RB Braelon Allen, QB Justin Fields, LT Olu Fashanu, WR Garrett Wilson, S Tony Adams; and another new addition in C/OL Josh Myers.

Myers comes to the Jets after having played as Fields' center for the Buckeyes, a veteran from his days with the Packers who could press Tippmann for the starting job. If possible, it seems to be a friendly kind of competition between two guys who spent years in the Badger State doing more than simply playing football in the Upper Midwest.

"It's been awesome, Josh is such a great dude," Tippmann said. "He's a Midwest guy like myself [Myers is from Dayton, OH; Tippmann is from Fort Wayne, IN]. So we immediately got along really well. We found out some stuff like we used to [do] growing up. We vacationed at the same spot pretty much all winter long. Doing some snowmobiling and stuff up there.

"But just coming along with Josh, he's been such a great guy, somebody who's in the room helping me, I'm helping him. We can after a meeting, after a practice, we can go and lay our thoughts on the table and ping-pong off each other. And that's been something that's just been great for the both of us. And I'm excited to be working with him, working along with the rest of the O-line everybody's been so great so far."

Before the players left minicamp for a break ahead of camp convening at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, team reporter Caroline Hendershot chatted with Tippmann and Johnson as they look ahead to camp, and beyond to the 2025 NFL season with the opener against Pittsburgh (and QB Aaron Rodgers) at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 7.

Joe Tippmann: New QB 'Is a Very Smart Individual'

Still only 24 years old, Tippmann is preparing for his third season in the NFL after taking all 1,066 snaps on offense last season. Now he expects to be snapping the ball to a new QB -- Justin Fields.

"It's been great with Justin, he's such an awesome guy," Tippmann said. "As a leader, as a player, as a quarterback, he's somebody who takes his job very seriously, but also, he's a very smart individual, somebody who's always learning, always developing.

"It's something that's been really cool for me is being with somebody that I can develop with. I played with Aaron [Rodgers], it was a great experience, something that was awesome. But with Justin, a younger guy, somebody who I can learn from and grow with. So that's what has really kind of taken me the most"

Tyler Johnson: 'Get 1 Percent Better Every Day'

LIke a couple of other free agents signed by GM Darren Mougey and HC Aaron Glenn, Tyler Johnson (6-2, 205) is itching for a fresh start and an opportunity to fulfill early expectations after being selected by Tampa Bay in the fifth round (No. 161 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. After spending time with three teams over his first five seasons in the NFL, Johnson is in the mix with Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard for the position of WR2 behind Garrett Wilson. There's also added competition from rookie Arian Smith and second-year man Malachi Corley.

Speaking about the group of receivers, Johnson said: "It's been amazing so far, being able to come out here with these guys, day-in and day-out, and work with one another. We're able to go out here and make plays and get 1 percent better every day."

In his five NFL seasons, Johnson, 26, has played in 49 games (8 starts) and has 76 receptions for 828 yards (10.9 yards/catch) and 4 touchdowns playing for the Bucs, the Texans and the Rams. After seeing limited playing time in 2022 and '23, he bounced back in LA last season when he appeared in 15 games and caught 26 passes for 291 yards.

Johnson has been settling into a room full of talented receivers that is overseen by wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, the only coaching holdover on Glenn's staff.

"Real OG man, him being able to just be real, brings the best out of us each and every day," Johnson said. "And his passion for the game is very real. It's something that you can't find pretty often. So it's a blessing to be able to be in the same room as him."