Horned Frogs First Person: Jonathan Bax
7/18/2023 10:28:00 AM | Football
TCU is home and family for the freshman linebacker
(as told to Lily Margaret Greenway)
I take pride in showing everybody that they are worthy. I want to be the guy with a smile on my face holding the door open, asking someone how their day was, and checking up on them. You never know what anyone is going through. I am big on relationship building with God, with my team and coaching staff, and on campus. I'm starting to learn everyone's name, and I realize we have more chemistry on the field when we invest in leading and knowing each other. I'll be with these guys for four years, so it is important to build that foundation of trust, and to uplift and encourage my brothers around me. I feel like I'm at home when I'm out here – it's all family.
My parents are a big part of my "why." I don't know where I would be without them. They have listened to and supported my NFL goals since I was 4 years old, and they put money into my training. My mom always got my brother and me to practice every day. I love my mom, but I spend a lot more time with my pops. My pops would run laps with me, coach me in my ear, introduce me to the ways of football and teach me right from wrong. Besides God, he is my main guidance. Both of my parents push me to follow my dreams and give back by setting an example for kids back home in New Orleans.
It has always been my mindset to bet on myself and get better every day. You alone know what you are capable of, so take that leap! Always bet on you. God has a lot of things in store, but you have to be the one to take the risk. I've had a lot of people tell me what I couldn't do, even in the recruitment process. Schools told me I wasn't scholarship worthy or that I was too small, but TCU took a chance on me and gave me a great opportunity to show the world what I am about. My biggest goal in my last year of high school was to get through football season healthy. I always knew I wanted to enroll early to play football, so I worked hard to earn the credits and make the grades.
After I went to a mini-camp at TCU, Coach (Joe) Gillespie and Coach Buck (Carlton Buckels) recruited me personally, which was huge. Even in the spring, I felt like I was supposed to be here – studying and playing college football in the Big 12. It's time to work and grind and share my talents. I have learned to have confidence, but also to be humble. Perseverance goes a long way, and I have the ambition to do the right thing each and every day. I am the first guy who shows up for practice, and if I'm not the first, I'm the second. It's all about doing the small things right, every day, in each and every way. And every morning, I thank God for the opportunity to be here and play on this field.
Playing for TCU means you have a target on your back. We're always getting overlooked as a small school in Fort Worth, Texas, but when you put that helmet on, people know we're coming and they don't want to miss it. We're different. We're the only school with purple, black, gray and red in our swag, and we have the best jerseys, the best unity, and the best people. We had a big year last year, and we aren't going backwards. I pull from the energy and discipline of the older guys, and I know there is no room for error. We have a hunger and determination to get back to the natty, but with a different outcome – one where we are holding the trophy up.
I take pride in showing everybody that they are worthy. I want to be the guy with a smile on my face holding the door open, asking someone how their day was, and checking up on them. You never know what anyone is going through. I am big on relationship building with God, with my team and coaching staff, and on campus. I'm starting to learn everyone's name, and I realize we have more chemistry on the field when we invest in leading and knowing each other. I'll be with these guys for four years, so it is important to build that foundation of trust, and to uplift and encourage my brothers around me. I feel like I'm at home when I'm out here – it's all family.
My parents are a big part of my "why." I don't know where I would be without them. They have listened to and supported my NFL goals since I was 4 years old, and they put money into my training. My mom always got my brother and me to practice every day. I love my mom, but I spend a lot more time with my pops. My pops would run laps with me, coach me in my ear, introduce me to the ways of football and teach me right from wrong. Besides God, he is my main guidance. Both of my parents push me to follow my dreams and give back by setting an example for kids back home in New Orleans.
It has always been my mindset to bet on myself and get better every day. You alone know what you are capable of, so take that leap! Always bet on you. God has a lot of things in store, but you have to be the one to take the risk. I've had a lot of people tell me what I couldn't do, even in the recruitment process. Schools told me I wasn't scholarship worthy or that I was too small, but TCU took a chance on me and gave me a great opportunity to show the world what I am about. My biggest goal in my last year of high school was to get through football season healthy. I always knew I wanted to enroll early to play football, so I worked hard to earn the credits and make the grades.
After I went to a mini-camp at TCU, Coach (Joe) Gillespie and Coach Buck (Carlton Buckels) recruited me personally, which was huge. Even in the spring, I felt like I was supposed to be here – studying and playing college football in the Big 12. It's time to work and grind and share my talents. I have learned to have confidence, but also to be humble. Perseverance goes a long way, and I have the ambition to do the right thing each and every day. I am the first guy who shows up for practice, and if I'm not the first, I'm the second. It's all about doing the small things right, every day, in each and every way. And every morning, I thank God for the opportunity to be here and play on this field.
Playing for TCU means you have a target on your back. We're always getting overlooked as a small school in Fort Worth, Texas, but when you put that helmet on, people know we're coming and they don't want to miss it. We're different. We're the only school with purple, black, gray and red in our swag, and we have the best jerseys, the best unity, and the best people. We had a big year last year, and we aren't going backwards. I pull from the energy and discipline of the older guys, and I know there is no room for error. We have a hunger and determination to get back to the natty, but with a different outcome – one where we are holding the trophy up.
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