What is more impressive? A college football player returning to play six months after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, or someone diagnosed with two learning disabilities graduating from college and getting a teaching certificate?
The only right answer is Jon Hargis.
The offensive guard and graduate student who made a surprise return to the team after tearing his ACL in spring practice, will play in the final home game of his ASU career on Friday. Hargis has two learning disabilities, dyslexia and dysgraphia, which make it extremely difficult to read and write.
“Having a learning disability when you are 6, 7 and 8 years old and not being able to read like your other peers — that is hard,” Hargis said. “The life lessons I have had before this have brought me here. The biggest thing was understanding what you’re going through and instead of being depressed and oh, ‘everyone is out to get me,’ take into account you have a disability and that you need help to get through school.
“Once you can accept it, you can take advantage and move forward with what is out there to assist you.”
Hargis is accustomed to adversity and it prepared him for an unpredictable college football career.
Recruited as a star defensive tackle in high school, Hargis has played under two coaching staffs, and has tried his hand at three positions — offensive guard, tackle and defensive tackle — in his five years at ASU.
“You look back at his career and I can look back with a smile with Jon because in my first year he was a defensive tackle and played on that team that won 10 games and played quite a bit,” ASU coach Dennis Erickson said. “We moved him to offense and we made that change and we all know about the knee surgery that he went through how he has fought back and is able to play now.”
At 23, Hargis has seen a few things.
Teammates call him, “married man.” He’s not married, though he has a home and girlfriend and is a coffee drinker. It’s easy for teammates to look up to a “married man.”
Naturally, a captain and considered one of ASU’s leaders, Hargis has a degree in Special Education and wants to help youth in some capacity after graduate school, perhaps as a high school coach.
“I want to help teach kids the sensibility of hard work and team work,” Hargis said.
On a young, volatile ASU team, Hargis almost serves as a coach, teacher and mentor. Perhaps one of the reasons the Sun Devils have bounced back from close losses with top-notch effort has been because of Hargis’ leadership.
“Since I have finished school in four years, I just know how to get stuff done and just keep pushing forward no matter how hard things become,” Hargis said. “You can’t get down on yourself. You just have to move forward to the next day and the day after that and everything will come together. “
Though in and out of the starting lineup, Hargis was a player quick to come to the mind of reflective coaches.
“The guy has spilled a lot of blood for this program, so you’re going to see him on the field for Friday night,” offensive line coach Gregg Smith said. “He is kind of a trendsetter. He came in here and he has set a precedent for other guys to look up to and it is something that he has to be extremely proud of. I’m really proud of him. He is going to have a great future and a great life.”
Hargis should get hearty applause from Sun Devil faithful when he’s introduced for the final time. He is likely to see the field and not just on the merits of his current ability.
“He is going to play in [Friday’s] game,” Erickson said. “There is no question in my mind, whether he is a starter or he’s just going to play. He has earned that right.”
Reach the reporter at nick.ruland@asu.edu