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Hobson, Clonts Join Forces At LB

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By SCOTT PURKS

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 4, 2008

TAMPA - They have gone from sitting beside each other in kindergarten to standing strong as Jesuit's middle linebackers.

P.J. Hobson and Garrett Clonts.

And through it all they have remained the closest of friends.

Personalities? Well, that depends on where they are.

In school, Hobson, as Jesuit's class president, is more of a gregarious public figure, while Clonts tends to mingle in the masses.

But on the football field they are one in the same: Relentless, quick, and extremely hard-hitting.

"One time in drills last year we ran head long into each other and my helmet broke and flew off," Hobson said, chuckling. "Sometimes your head hurts after you do something like that. But hey, that's OK, it's the game. It's the way it is."

Hobson is slightly bigger than Clonts - 6-foot and 213 pounds to 5-11 and 200 - but Jesuit coach Joe Ross said Clonts might hit a little harder.

Which is one of the reasons Ross moved Clonts this year from safety to linebacker. The other reasons include the fact Clonts got a lot stronger during the past year (raising his bench press from 215 to 275), and, just as much as any other reason, Hobson and Clonts have been friends for life.

"It made the transition easier for me because I knew P.J. knew everything about playing the linebacker position," Clonts said. "If there is any question about anything I know I can go right to him. Plus we already knew how the other played, partly because we do know each other so well."

In a bit of a twist, Hobson actually has far less years of football experience than Clonts. While Clonts played youth league football since age 7, Hobson really didn't get into it until junior high because he was focused on soccer.

But, Hobson said, "I think football was always more for me. I kept colliding into guys as a soccer goalie and knocking them out of games. Coaches kept telling me I was one of the most aggressive players they had ever seen."

As it turns out, Hobson will be the only one of the two moving to the next level in football, having verbally committed to the University of Pennsylvania, where he will pursue a business degree. Clonts, meantime, is looking at Florida State University, where he plans to watch football and, like Hobson, will most likely pursue a degree in business.

But, first things first.

"We really want to make this year, our final year, something special," Hobson said. "I can't say that this year is more special because that wouldn't be fair to all the other great teams and players from the previous three years.

"I do think this year definitely has a greater sense of urgency. We really, really want to make the playoffs which they missed last year."

Clonts said, "If we all stay together, I know we can do it."

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