Jonathan Holton is determined to play college football — even if that opportunity is 800 miles away.
Holton, a former Jackson County Comprehensive High School tight end and outside linebacker, has signed with Monmouth College — a Division III school in Illinois — fulfilling his wish to play at the next level.
“I always wanted to play college football, and I finally get an opportunity and not many of them come by, so I plan on taking it whether it’s a million miles away or right down the road,” Holton said Friday at a signing ceremony.
Wabash (Ind.), LaGrange and Shorter colleges all recruited Holton while in high school, but he initially decided to stay home to help take care of his family instead of pursuing his college football goals.
“I had already told the other schools that I was kind of wanting to stay home, because I live with my grandparents, and supporting them and helping them out and helping my sister out and stuff like that, I wanted to stay home,” Holton explained.
But when one last opportunity to play college football arose – at Monmouth — Holton decided he owed it to himself to follow his dream.
“This popped up, and I was like, ‘I’ve got to go,’” Holton said.
The former Panther thinks being in an unfamiliar place will actually strengthen his focus on football. Of course, home will always be there if needs it.
“That’s what I got to thinking,” Holton said. “I can always go up there and if I don’t like it, I can always come home … I’m thinking I can just get away from everything, go somewhere totally new where I can start over.”
In fact, Holton has a chance to see the field as a slot receiver at Monmouth, noting that the Fighting Scots – who play in the Midwest Conference — lost three of five starters from their receiving corps.
“I have a big, big chance of actually getting playing time as a freshman,” he said.
For his family to see him play this year, it would probably require a plane ticket. But Holton knows those closest to him will support him, even if it’s from afar.
“I know it’s a good ways away, but I’ll be home for all the breaks I’ll be home all summer,” Holton said. “It’s just something I’ve got to do and they understand that. They support me 100 percent.”
