Jonathan Saxon
About
Jonathan Saxon enters his 4th year leading Bulldog defense in 2022–his 8th year total with SC State football. In addition to coordinating the defense, Saxon oversees the linebackers.
After a historic win in the 2021 Celebration Bowl, Saxon had a busy offseason highlighted by his selection to the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Seattle Seahawks. Working hands-on with Head Coach Pete Carroll, Defensive Coordinator Clint Hurtt, Associate Head Coach Sean Desai, and the rest of the Seahawks defense, Coach Saxon gained valuable experience with some of the best football coaches in the world. The Seahawks weren’t the only team Saxon worked with this offseason, as he was invited to coach in the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl with the New York Jets staff. Rounding out his offseason coaching stops, Saxon was then asked to coach in the 2022 HBCU Legacy Bowl.
During the 2022 offseason, Saxon saw his 7th player drafted to the NFL when Decobie Durant was drafted in the 4th round with the 127th overall pick to the Los Angeles Rams. Prior to the draft, Durant was named a HERO Sports 2021 Second Team All-American, was honored as the 2021 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, and took home the 2021 Celebration Bowl Defensive MVP.
This hot offseason did not go unnoticed by the media, as both ESPN and FootballScoop honored Saxon: he was named to ESPN’s 2022 45 Under 45 Minority Coaches to Watch for Future FBS Head Coaching Jobs and FootballScoop’s 2022 Minority Watch List/Rising Stars.
The springboard to the 2022 offseason was a successful 2021 season where Saxon’s stifling defense led the Bulldogs to a Celebration Bowl/HBCU National Championship win over heavily favored Jackson State, holding JSU to only 10 points and 193 total yards. On their way to the Celebration Bowl, the Bulldogs captured the MEAC Title, ranked 4th nationally in Fumbles Recovered, 7th nationally in Turnovers Gained, and top 40 nationally in nine defensive categories, while leading the MEAC in six defensive categories.
The 2020 season was delayed due to COVID-19, with the team playing only 4 games in Spring 2021. However, they had a very successful spring season, going 3-1 with their only loss coming to eventual SWAC Champion, Alabama A&M.
The 2019 team finished 1st nationally in Passing Efficiency Defense, 2nd nationally in Tackles For Loss, and top 30 nationally in 14 total defensive categories, while finishing 1st in the MEAC in seven defensive categories, on the way to a Co-MEAC Football Championship and three players earning All-MEAC honors
The 2018 team finished top 30 nationally in nine defensive categories and 1st in the MEAC in two defensive categories on the way to four players earning All-MEAC honors–DL Tyrell Goodwin was selected First Team.
The 2017 team finished 1st nationally in Blocked Kicks and Blocked Punts, 2nd nationally in First Down Defense, 7th nationally in Pass Efficiency Defense, and 8th nationally in Total Defense and Rush Defense. Entering the 2017 season, Saxon knew he had something special in LB Darius Leonard, and Leonard did not disappoint. Leonard, who would go on to be selected with the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, was selected as a First Team FCS All-American in 2016 and 2017 and a First Team All-MEAC honoree in 2015, 2016, and 2017, was named the 2016 and 2017 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and 2016 Box to Row Defensive Player of the Year, and earned an invite to the 2018 Senior Bowl. The 2017 team also included LB Dayshawn Taylor, who was selected as a First Team All-MEAC honoree in 2016, a Second Team All-MEAC honoree in 2017, and a Third Team All-MEAC honoree in 2015.
The 2016 team finished 1st nationally in Blocked Kicks Allowed and Blocked Punts Allowed, 3rd nationally in Fumbles Recovered and Turnovers Gained, 10th nationally in Tackles For Loss, and 12th nationally in Passes Intercepted, while finishing 1st in the MEAC in five defensive categories.
The 2015 team finished 1st nationally in Sacks, Tackles for Loss, Third Down Defense, and Blocked Punts Allowed, 2nd nationally in Blocked Kicks and Blocked Punts, 3rd nationally in Red Zone Defense and Passing Yards Allowed, 4th nationally in Scoring Defense, 5th nationally in Fourth Down Defense, and 8th nationally in Total Defense, while finishing 1st in the MEAC in nine defensive categories.
The 2014 team finished 1st nationally in Punt Returns and Blocked Punts Allowed, 2nd nationally in Sacks, and 7th nationally in Tackles for Loss and Kick Return Defense, on the way to a Co-MEAC Football Championship.
Prior to SC State, Saxon spent two years as a Defensive Line Graduate Assistant at the University of Louisville. In 2013, he helped coach AAC Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smith, who was a 2014 first-round draft pick for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Second-Team All-AAC honoree Lorenzo Mauldin.
That same year, Saxon helped with the Cardinals defense that led the nation in in sacks (3.31 per game; 43 sacks in 13 games), total defense (251.5 yards per game) and rushing defense (80.7 ypg.). The defense also ranked second in scoring defense (12.2 points per game), fifth in passing defense (170.8 yards per game) and ninth in tackles for loss with 7.8 per game (102 TFLs). Louisville finished the season with a 12-1 overall record, which included a 36-9 win over No. 25 Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
During the 2012 season, Saxon helped guide the Cardinals to a top-25 finish defensively and an 11-2 overall record, which included a BIG EAST title and a Sugar Bowl win over third-ranked Florida. Saxon spent a few months in early 2012 at SC State as a Strength and Conditioning Assistant before then joining Louisville in summer 2012.
A native of Orangeburg, S.C., Saxon was an outstanding Offensive Lineman at SC State, guiding the Bulldogs to three consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles and playoff appearances in 2008-2010.
Saxon earned his bachelor’s degree from SC State in Physical Education 2011, and earned a master’s degree from SC State in Rehabilitation Counseling in 2019.
Scholastically, Saxon was a three-year football letterwinner and a two-time letterman in basketball and track and field at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.
Saxon lives in Columbia with his fiancée, Jessica Rogers.
