Jonathan Manson '26 Recruiting Profile

I have been playing football since I was 5 years old, starting with flag football. When I was 7 years old, I started to play tackle football. Football has taught me how to lose and win and to stay humble in anything that I do. I am a multi-sport athlete, and I earned my Black Belt in 2021 for Tae Kwon do. I have been training since I was 5 years old and took on leadership roles for teaching less experienced students no matter their age. I have practiced jiu-jitsu and have competed and gone to tournaments in a sport where the size of the competitor or opponent is not a determining factor of success. I like that it is a one-on-one sport that relies on balance, leverage, and timing, not just brute strength. In elementary and middle school, I played baseball and won MVP in my 8th-grade year. I have been urged to play baseball in high school, but football is my true passion. In the off-season, I practice skills training, weight training, and footwork. In the first camp that I went to I soon realized the importance of footwork.

In elementary school, I won first place in the mathematics competition and was asked to come back and speak at the Mu Alpha Theta induction and Math awards ceremony. I was in the AIG program for the academically gifted and maintained the AB honor roll throughout my school career. I took a high school-level class in middle school, and I was 1 of 2 students in the whole school that took high school courses. I am currently in all honors level academic courses as well.

I consider myself to be a very coachable and versatile player. Many times, my coaches have played me in many different positions to benefit what the team needed. Some of my coaches started calling me "cap" for captain, because in the weight room I lead by example, and I don't take short cuts. Integrity has always been something instilled in me by my family as it is just as important what I do when in front of somebody as it is when no one is watching. I try to stay positive and pick my teammates up when they are down or when we are losing. I have learned that it is always important to push through and finish everything you do to the best of your ability.

I have a strong supporting family in everything that I do, they are always motivating me and pushing me to do my best in anything. My family has taught me to be respectful to everyone and to be nice to people because you don't know what they are going through. I rely on GOD to give me direction but in the future, I want to become an investor and play at the collegiate level. Some of my obstacles are that it is hard to balance time with my family because of school and sports practice. I am dedicated to my family and coaches, and I wish to influence others and encourage them to believe that you can make it to a high level even in a small town. Some of my strengths are that I can play many different positions on the field, I am a versatile and reliable player that will play wherever the coaches or team needs me and I encourage and motivate others to do their best.