If you have attended at least one of the football games this 2024-2025 season, you may have noticed something unique about player #0, Jonathan Jackson Jr., ‘27. He is a two-way player, meaning he plays both offensive and defensive positions.
Jackson is a sophomore and has played football for WHHS since the seventh grade strictly in defensive positions such as defensive linebacker and defensive end.
However, this summer, Jackson made the commitment of playing both defense and offense.
“My team needed me and I just decided to do it,” Jackson said.
Along with being a starting defensive linebacker and the second running back, Jackson starts for special teams when the Eagles are punting or kicking off.
“I get no breaks,” Jackson said.
In order to keep his body healthy, Jackson has a few specific strategies to deal with the constant grind.
“[I focus on] taking breaks throughout the game, hydrating and maintaining a nutritious diet,” Jackson said. “[I] chill out throughout the day, make sure I eat a lot, and eat a lot of vitamins.”
Jackson now plays as a second running back as his offensive position and as an outside linebacker on defense, which he believes makes him an even more dangerous player.
“You know the job of both positions, so when youâre defending it, you will know what they’re going to do. It would make a coach or scout think I’m resilient and a swiss army knife,” Jackson said.
One benefit of playing multiple positions is that Jackson feels as though it has helped him to learn how to move laterally. However, being a two-way player has also increased the pressure on Jackson.
“If you don’t perform well one-way, you might lose the other position,” Jackson said.
Before the football season began this year, Jonathan was named one of the captains, making him the first underclassman football captain since 2018.
“I felt proud that my leadership is finally getting noticed for the whole school to see,” Jackson said.
Jackson believes that he makes a good team captain because he is “smart, vocal and positive.” He also feels pleased with the fact that he was selected as team captain.
“I feel like it’s a difference knowing that the guys think of me as a leader,” Jackson said.
This year, Jackson has one specific goal as team captain.
“[I want to] get first-team all ECC,” Jackson said.
Following high school, Jackson also has some additional football-related goals.
“[My goals are] playing D1 football and being like my brother,” Jackson said.