M.J. Gideon- James Clemens Comeback Player
MADISON- For all his 15-years, Anthony Mario Gideon, Jr. has been a winner at most of his endeavors in athletics. Elite efforts in football, basketball, track and including being a three-time state champion in youth wrestling. He has met his challenges head-on, but his biggest challenge was returning from a serious shoulder injury he suffered in his freshman season of football a year ago at James Clemens.
“I hurt my shoulder at practice two days prior to our homecoming game versus Huntsville, but I didn’t think it was that bad,” said Gideon. “I wore a brace as I headed into the game on special teams. On a kickoff play I got hit and suffered a torn labrum and dislocated shoulder. Two weeks after the injury I underwent surgery and then through six months of painful rehabilitation.”
Born on Martin Luther King Day in 2009 and the oldest of three children to Anthony and Laticia Gideon, “M.J.,” which he is so named by his friends for “Mario Jr.,” grew up in Huntsville and moved to Madison in the eighth grade where he joined the Liberty Middle School football team and was named team MVP at the end of the season. In his freshman season the following school year, his talents were evident to the coaching staff, and he was elevated to play on the varsity squad regulated to special teams action.
“MJ is a talented young man with a bright future in football as he’s an outstanding student and high character individual,” said Chad McGehee head coach of James Clemens. “He’s back this season and we know he will be special as he has all the tools needed to be a great player.”
Through the first three games this season, where the Jets are undefeated (3-0) with a 17-10 win over Gardendale, a thrilling 34-31 victory over Bob Jones and the most recent 32-7 battle against Region 4 foe Huntsville, the 5-foot-10, 200-pound Gideon seems to be gliding through the defenses almost at will. He has 379 yards on 38 carries for a 9.97-yard per carry average and 7 touchdowns plus another 50 yards on three pass catches. Against rival Bob Jones, he finished with 117 yards rushing and two touchdowns including the game clincher with 1:17 remaining. In the blowout versus Huntsville, he tallied 97 yards and two scores on just 11 carries for an 8.8-yard average.
Gideon is looking to make a spot on the James Clemens basketball team as soon as football has completed its schedule as he was set to play for the Jets as a freshman, but the injury led to him to watch the team from the sidelines. His years on the basketball court he has been a play-making guard with excellent defensive skills. As for football, he began playing in youth leagues in the fourth grade and soon exhibited his natural talents as a running back, wide receiver and linebacker being named his team’s Most Valuable Players in grades four through six. His sixth-grade season included his team wining the Madison County Championship.
Gideon’s real talents may be in the sport of wrestling which he participated in ages 4-10. He took to the sport with enthusiasm, and the raw ability to be quick, strong, durable and intelligent. While on the mats, he won three State Championships. He was well on his way to be a big player in a high school’s wrestling program, but Gideon was faced with the fact the wrestling season coincided with his play among the basketball season and was faced with the task of having to choose one among the two sports. After much consideration, he gave up wrestling to stick to playing basketball.
The speedster is also a member of the James Clemens track team where he excels in the 100 meter, 4×100 relay and the difficult triple jump. His personal best in the 100 meters is 11.5 seconds while his top mark in the triple jump is 41-feet, 9-inches. He will tackle the track endeavor as soon as basketball winds down in the spring.
Upon having surgery, Gideon faced the task of rehabilitate his shoulder and did so with the help of the school’s two athletic trainers, Dan and Jenna. He fought is way through hours of rehabilitation to regain flexibility and strength. His determination to recover included no weigh training for three months and numerous exercises he went through even at home. He was cleared to start back at physical contact in the spring and now claims, “I feel normal again, although I do wear a brace during practices and games.”
“At our first fall practice to feature physical contact, my injury and surgery went through my mind, and I was nervous at first and was afraid to hit my shoulder,” said Gideon. “My father encouraged me to fight the anxious feeling and return to the game I love as my father was an athlete when he attended Lee High in Huntsville. My mother attended Bob Jones.”
McGehee has watched his young star running back go through the trek of coming back from the injury and is proud to see Gideon is back. He added, “M.J. has been resilient and working hard to return. We know he’s special.”
Gideon is proud of the fact he assists his grandfather’s church in Huntsville by working the audio/video equipment. His grandfather, Devins Jackson, is the pastor at the Body of Christ Church. The 15-year old Gideon is also working with one of his teammates, Malakai Cooper, as they operate a power washing business and serve numerous clients when they are not in school or on the football field.
Gideon bares three noticeable scars on his shoulder from his surgery nearly a year ago. Those are reminders of his dedication to return to the team and play in big games like the recent Madison Bowl against the Jets’ cross-town rivals the Patriots. “I’ve never been in an atmosphere of a large crowd like that. I was excited to get to play in that situation and to score the winning touchdown was awesome. As Bob Jones was lining up its game-tying field goal on the last play of the game, I was standing on the sidelines with the rest of the team praying we would somehow win.” Gideon’s faith paid off as Bob Jones’ attempt at the kick was blocked by James Clemens preserving the three-point victory for the Jets.
He’s happy he’s doing well in his efforts and is extremely excited for what’s to come for his team with his help. “I’m an all-purpose back and work well with my large hands. I even workout with a hand grip to gain strength in my hands to hold the ball and catch passes. I want to be a complete player.”
With a 3.4 grade point average in his hip pocket, Gideon is aware college recruiters will be fighting their way to see him in action and with the attention will come the war to earn his talents. He said he does not think about what’s to come in that area and he’s busy helping his team win games and work to the post-season playoffs, as well as continue to make a remarkable comeback and be a winner as he’s been all his life.
