OU Gets Victory with Jon-Michael Terry
By MIKE MOGUIN
GtR Sports Writer
CONQUEROR: Victory Christian’s Jon-Michael Terry will attend the University of Oklahoma where he will play for the Sooners.
Courtesy photo
History was made at Victory Christian School last month when Jon-Michael Terry signed to play football at the University of Oklahoma.
Terry, who stands 6-4 and weighs 242 pounds and played linebacker and tight end in his high school career, became the first Conqueror to choose the Sooners as his home for college football. He signed the scholarship at 7:30 a.m., then did a mock signing in a ceremony that took place before the classmates, coaches and school administrators later that morning.
“It’s really special,” says Terry, a three-sport athlete who also plays for Victory’s basketball team and runs the anchor on the 400-meter relay team in track and field. “We really have a great student body here, a great fan base, it’s really cool.
“I’m just really excited. It means a lot to me and my family. I just can’t wait.”
“Being raised in this school, God is just a big part in everything we do,” Terry says. “You got to put God first every day and I give all this to Him. I give thanks to Him. All my thanks goes to God right now.”
As a tight end, Terry caught passes from teammate and quarterback Keats Calhoon. They met up again at the student assembly before the mock signing. Calhoon also signed that day to play his college career at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
Terry chose the Sooners over offers from , and TU.
“It’s just a great opportunity,” Terry says. “Years from now, when I remember this, it’ll mean a lot more to me then.
During his Victory career, Terry forced 453 career tackles and caught 148 passes for nearly 2,300 yards and 17 touchdowns.
The Victory Christian senior was recruited to play linebacker by inside linebackers coach Tim Kish. But the outside spot of that position, where standout Eric Striker had been playing, is something Terry said has been fun to watch.
“I definitely think I’m going to be a great fit,” he says. “I’m just going to go in and put in my word and see what happens.”
Does he expect to play or redshirt? Terry is keeping optimistic.
“Everybody wants to play, right? We just got to see what happens,” he says. “I’m really excited about it, I can’t wait to get to Norman.”
The dream to play D-I football started for Terry when he was in middle school. People could see his ability, size and speed, which eventually attracted OU coaches.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to play at the college level,” Terry says. “When I was in middle school, I realized it could be a possibility for me. Since then, I’ve had everybody around me helping me, bringing me up, helping me work and all that.
“I was a college football fan growing up. I just watched it all,” he says.
“I always wanted to play college football, I just didn’t know it was going to be with OU until my junior year.”
In that instance, he had notified OU coaches while driving back to Tulsa on the Turner Turnpike.
What was it about the Sooners that stood out to this Conqueror? Like any other young athlete, the prestige and the accomplishments the OU program has accomplished.
“The program’s history, the school, and everything about it. They just have a great school all the way around and a great program,” Terry says.
With him being a Christian, Terry recognizes the challenges of maintaining his faith as he pursues a gridiron career at one of the top reputable football schools in the country. But he has a plan.
“I’m just going to go in and keep my head on straight and just keep going to church and doing the right things,” he says.
Playing for Big 12 Championships and contending for spots in the Playoffs and National Championships is something this soon-to-be Victory graduate already has as his football goals.
“It’s going to be exciting,” Terry says. “I just can’t wait.”
Then there is OU-Texas. He has thoughts on that too.
“That’ll be a real awesome experience getting to play in that game,” he says.
Updated 02-29-2016
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