Our latest Subway Scholar Athlete got his shot this year on offense for the first time in his life, and all he's done is run his way to very impressive numbers.
"We brought him up last year as a sophomore because he's so big and strong and talented," said Paradise high football coach Rick Prinz.
"Last year I played nose guard, you're going against the bigger guys on the other team every play," said Jonathon Dixon.
"So he started there last year and we repped him at running back and then with about 4 injuries we said we gotta go with Jon," added Prinz.
"Coach Prinz decided I was going to play both ways and put me there and see how it worked out," said Dixon.
It's something you almost never see in football, a defensive lineman turned into a running back, and for Paradise high's Jonathon Dixon the change hasn't just worked out, it's been a great call.
Since taking on the new running back role, Dixon has rushed for 659 yards and twelve touchdowns in just five games.
"You see him improving every week and his best running days are in front of him," added Prinz.
With Dixon leading the charge the Bobcats are the Northern Section's best Division One team with a record of 5-2.
He says he enjoys the responsibility of being a two-way star.
"Sometimes on defense, I'll get first and second down off, and then I'll go back, but on offense I'm alwasy going, so I'll get tired but I just try to push through it because I know I mean you just put things in perspective and it's like we need this right now," said Dixon.
That type of leadership stretches from the football field to the classroom, where this junior carries a 3.5 GPA.
"I expect to do everything right you know and I really try to engage my brain because school really really matters you know," said Dixon.
Jonathon Dixon seems to be the type of person who could handle anything you throw his way, and that's one of the reasons why he is our latest Subway Scholar Athlete of the Week.
