Michiko Araki
You never know when it’s your time to shine – but you better prepare as if you’re going to be the starter on any given day.
First year Lion Jonathon Jennings knows all too well that he could be called upon at any given time to step out on the field. In the team’s first preseason game against Calgary, he was selected for the challenge. First game wearing his BC Lions jersey, first game as a starter, first road trip, first snap – a big test for the rookie quarterback, which he handled with poise.
Since then, Jonathon hasn’t been able to get as much playing time behind Lions vets Travis Lulay and John Beck, but that all changed a few weeks ago when an unfortunate injury sidelined Lulay. Now second on the depth chart, Jonathon understands that when he gets the call, he has to be ready to perform.
“I think It’s our job to be prepared,” he explains. “All of us in the quarterback room are trying to prep ourselves to be that guy on the field. You never know what can happen, I think it happened to Montreal early in the season – a hit on the first string quarterback, the 2nd string quarterback came in and he was out. So the 3rd string quarterback had to come in. If you’re not ready for that, then it’s kind of your fault. I just try to prep like I’m going out there to play, and even though I don’t get as many reps, it’s just a mind game. You have to try to make sure you’re mentally prepped enough to go out there and make some plays.”
For Jonathon, the past few weeks has been an opportunity to get better and prove that he can work alongside the vets on the field.
“I feel good about it. It’s exciting,” he says about getting more reps during practice. “It’s back to kind of how it was in preseason where I was taking reps. So it’s always fun, that’s what we come out here to do, to compete every day.”
Although the Saginaw Valley State grad was a little uneasy at first adjusting to a new team, the experiences he had at training camp this year really made the difference for him coming into the season. For one, Jonathon had the chance to room with Lulay, which presented an amazing opportunity to learn from a seasoned and respected veteran on the team.
“Travis is a great guy for that,” he explains. “We roomed together and I had a great time with it. I was learning a new system and having reps with the first team but it was my first year so it was a little crazy. We would go to meetings, come back home, and I’d be watching film and he’d be so ready to come in and help me and watch film with me, so it was a good thing to pick his brain and learn from him even more.”
How has his experience been with the team and the other quarterbacks this season?
“It’s been great. You have two veteran guys (Travis and John) that have both been through a lot, done a lot of stuff, and had a lot of success in their careers so it’s awesome learning from those guys and learning from their experiences. They’ve been through a lot in this game. It’s a tough game. It’s tough to comprehend, first of all it’s tough to get used to some of the things that come with [being a pro], but learning from them has been a great thing.”
Even though he’s one of the new guys, Jonathon is confident that he has what it takes to perform on the field if given the chance. On the field, he showcases a maturity and a calmness that has you wondering if he’s only really 23.
“Just coming to work every day, talking to those guys, and showing that you’re confident in yourself,” he explains as the keys to gaining respect from the older players on the team. “I think I showed that a little bit in Calgary during the preseason. I was thrown into starting in the first preseason against Calgary, kept calm, and showed that I was confident and not scared out there. If you show that you’re scared, everyone else will feel unsure. If you show that you’re confident in your game and confident in your ability to go out and play, everything follows. If my opportunity comes, I just want to show that I can play in this league.”
