Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Q&A with senior running back Jonathan Mixon
11/15/2018 | 11:40:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Fifth-year senior Jonathan Mixon will play in his final game as a Saluki this Saturday at North Dakota State. The fullback turned running back has 19 career rushing touchdowns heading into the Fargodome, good for ninth all-time at SIU. This season, Mixon has tacked on four touchdowns and is a key member of the SIU rushing attack, which averages 227 yards per game.
As a talented running back and wrestler in high school, which sport did you think you were better at?
I would say that I was a better wrestler. The thing about wrestling is that it is hard to get a full-ride scholarship. You have to be one of the top wrestlers to get one. I was good as far as the state of Illinois goes, but I was not as high in the national ranks.
Did wrestling help you become a better football player?
It definitely did. It is a different sport because you are obviously competing one-on-one rather than as a team. But mentally, wrestling pushes your body to limits that no other other sport can. You learn a lot about your body and how far you can push it, which helps with football.
Out of high school, you first attended West Point. How was that experience?
I ended up not liking it, but it was a good experience. It was definitely something different that I had not gone through before. But I learned a lot of leadership skills and went through some of the military aspects such as basic training.
Where did you go after leaving West Point?
After I left, I went back home and took a few summer classes at a local community college. I knew I was going to come here (SIU), so once the summer was over, I headed this way.
What do you want to pursue as a career after SIU?
I graduated with a degree in automotive technology and a minor in marketing. It is sort of a broad degree, so I would like to work somewhere in the automotive world on the marketing side of things. Marketing for either a dealership or company would be cool. I am also thinking about a pro football career, but am not sure yet. I am leaning toward giving football a shot. You only get one opportunity to go to the league, so I might as well give it all I got.
How would you describe your running style?
Starting out, I was mainly a power back. I still kind of consider myself a power back, but I also know that I can catch, block and run both inside and outside the tackles. Whatever the coaches ask me to do, I will do. When I first got here, I was actually a fullback. But then a couple injuries occurred and I was changed to running back. A couple players in front of me were more all-around backs, so that was a reason why I was used as a power back early on.
This being your third year with running backs coach Nate Griffin, what impact has he played in your development?
You can tell that he loves the running back room and helps you on the field, off the field, and with anything in life. He has definitely been the best coach I have had here.
This year, you have been more involved in early downs. What part of your game has improved?
My foot speed has improved, which is important as an every-down back. I worked on my open field agility moves and vision as well. Being able to make a defender miss in the open field is big. With vision, seeing the holes and finding other holes when the original is not there.
What's your relationship like with fellow running back D.J. Davis?
We are always on each other and asking for the best each and every day. When we see that one of us has done something wrong, we are correcting each other as soon as we are both back on the sideline. D.J. has all of the quickness and speed, so I try to embody some of what he does. Me being a power back, he tries to work on lowering his shoulder a little more and being aggressive.
You were slowed by a knee injury early in the season. How is it feeling now?
I am feeling 100 percent right now. I finally got the knee brace off last game. I think that was the first game I have played without the brace in a while, so it felt great.
How can the Salukis pull off an upset against No. 1 ranked North Dakota State on Saturday?
We just have to know our game. The rankings do not really bother us. Anybody can lose on any given Saturday. We are going into the game, just like any other. Come game time, we will be squared in and try to minimize mistakes.
What are you going to miss most about playing football for the Salukis?
I will miss being with the guys in the locker room, traveling with them, fall camp, spring ball and everything of that nature. It is a special bond.
