SANTA CLARA, CA -- Wilcox High junior Julian Jones is a throwback.
He's Jim Thorpe in an era of third-down receivers. He's a Swiss Army knife surrounded by straight-edge razors.
"It makes me feel like I'm in the game," Jones said of his versatility. "I like being on the field. I don't like to sit out too much."
He doesn't. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior standout plays tight end, receiver and outside linebacker. He also punts, kicks off, does the place kicking and could long snap if asked.
Jones' versatility extends beyond football. He is also a standout basketball and baseball player at the school, averaging double figures in hoops and getting called up from junior varsity last season to varsity at the end of last baseball season.
Again, in an era when seemingly all around him are focusing on one sport, Jones is making like Bo Jackson.
"I like all three sports," the precocious 11th grader said. "I feel like all three could be my ticket to a scholarship."
Wilcox coach Dan Brown doesn't disagree.
"He's a three-sport athlete and you don't see that much anymore," Brown said. "He does multiple things for us -- he's kind of old school. He has a great attitude and is a pleasure to coach."
Brown said Jones' only quirk is his number preference; the Charger junior fancies himself as a wide receiver and wants a receiver's number. Eventually, No. 33 was decided upon for this season -- that's a numeral that will be seen often on Friday night as Jones performs myriad tasks.
The Wilcox standout hails from excellent athletic stock. His father Larry Jones played at the University of Hawaii and in the Arena Football League ball for the San Jose SaberCats and for a team overseas. Julian's brother -- Larry Jones Jr. -- plays football at Foothill College. His sister Anecia Jones plays basketball at William Jessup College in Rocklin and his mom Patty Jones ran and did cross country skiing.
Football was not Jones' first love. He first tried soccer in kindergarten and played it until fifth grade. Now he prefers basketball in the winter and has no trouble getting into the gym because his dad is a security guard at Wilcox.
"If I don't have practice I'm in the gym playing basketball or lifting or sometimes going to the batting cages to hit," Jones said.
The Charger.star likes to hit on the football field, too, and you can bet he'll mete out some punishment when the Chargers host Manteca on Friday night in the non-league opener for both teams. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
"I like the contact," Jones said. "It just comes naturally to me. It feels good -- I can feel the adrenaline and I want to hit some more."
Jones has a 3.0 GPA and yearns for a college student scholarship in one of his many sports. One thing he guarantees potential college suitors -- he'll be all in.
"I feel like I'm an out-work-you kind of player," he said. "It doesn't matter how big or strong you are, I'm going to outwork you."
