Dartez becomes third VC athlete to sign D-I football scholarship in 25 years

For only the third time in 25 years, a Vermilion Catholic Eagle signed a Division I football scholarship.
On Wednesday,  Jonathan “JonJon” Dartez signed a letter of intent to play football for Nicholls State.
He becomes the third VC athlete to sign a Division I football scholarship since 1999. 
Kyle Zenon signed a football scholarship to McNeese in 2013. Before that, John Thompson signed with South Carolina in 2000.
On Wednesday, he signed his letter of intent in front of fans and football players.
“I’m excited about getting the opportunity to play college football,” said Dartez. “I’m grateful for Nicholls State. When I received their offer, it was a big relief.”
Before signing with Nicholls,  Dartez was leaning toward attending Arkansas-Monticello. 
VC head coach Broc Prejean will miss answering questions about his QB.
“I think I have been asked more questions about JonJon this year than I have been asked collectively over my 13 years in my classroom by my student,” said Prejean.  “I have never gotten tired of answering them because they all asked the same question roundaboutly – “How”?”
Prejean never had an answer as to “How.” He said he just enjoyed watching him play for the last four years.
“And I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t know, nor do I care, but it is what it is, and he is who he is,” said Prejean about how Dartez performed so well each Friday night.   “The truth is that the attention was never sought after, the accolades were never boasted about, and the goal was always selfless. He just showed up and did whatever his teammates and coaches asked of him at a level higher than anyone else could do with the reward being their satisfaction of his performance.”
Dartez was named the LSWA’s Class 1A Most Outstanding Offensive Player after rushing for 2,761 yards and 44 touchdowns on 348 carries last season. He also passed for 1,638 yards and 23 touchdowns on 92 of 146 attempts.
He is a two-time all-state selection, three-time district MVP, and three-time parish MVP.
Dartez is one of 27 student-athletes to sign with Nicholls State. 
The Colonels welcomed 12 offensive players, 10 on defense, three special teamers, and two athletes. Nicholls signed 18 from high school, eight former FBS players, and one junior college transfer. 
Of the 27, Dartez is the shortest of their signees at 5-8. Dartez said that during recruiting visits, coaches told him that being only 5-8 was a reason they did not offer him a scholarship.
Coach Prejean said, “Any basketball coach is going to roll the dice on a 6’8 guy. A baseball coach will always allow a guy to throw 95, or a football coach who sees 6’2 - 225 and says we can work with that. Instead, this young man took the path of wild consistency, heartfelt determination, and a God-given / family-inspired work ethic and entrusted the result of that process to God’s plan. I have never admired this young man more than when he stated, ‘I’m going to trust in God’s plan, and if nobody wants to give me an opportunity, then that’s their fault.’ ” 
Nicholls State is giving him that opportunity.