HIS TIME TO SHINE-Simi Valley junior Langston Jackson has converted from defense to offense this season and will start at running back for the Pioneers. He replaces Devin Kelley, who recently graduated. Opposing teams will be glad to hear Simi Valley's Langston Jackson won't be playing defense this season. Unfortunately for those same squads, Jackson will be playing a lot more offense.

Although Simi Valley's football team lost its top running back in Devin Kelley due to graduation, the Pioneers are looking to continue their excellent ground game as they place Jackson into the starting running back position.

With Jackson only a junior and a year of varsity ball now under his belt, the future looks very bright for the Pioneers.

"We have more help this year on defense so we are going to use him strictly on offense," SVHS head coach Todd Borowski said.

"We're looking to give him the ball around 18 to 22 times a game. As a sophomore last year he matured greatly, and now it almost seems like he's a senior on this team."

After spending his freshman year on the junior varsity team, Jackson had an impressive first year on the varsity level in 2005.

Even though he played mostly second fiddle to Kelley when it came to carries, Jackson still finished seventh in the Marmonte League in rushing with 411 yards.

Jackson also had three touchdowns on offense, highlighted by a 70-yard run against Agoura.

He was also stellar on defense, logging 41 tackles and 16 assisted tackles. Jackson's biggest defensive play may have been his interception returned 90 yards for a touchdown against Newbury Park.

"I like playing both offense and defense, but I liked the 70yard run more than the 90-yardinterception because I knew everyone on that play had done something in order to help me score."

Though coaches and offensive lineman for Simi have said Jackson is a great power runnerthey're glad he has improved his running outside the tackles, too.

"He's a very versatile, powerful runner," senior offensive lineman Nathan Mullett said. "He's a very hard worker, and when you have a running back that runs well, we (the offensive line) get noticed more. So it's great blocking for him."

In Jackson's spare time, he likes to try to improve his own game by watching tapes of some famous running backs that include Reggie Bush and the late Walter Payton.

Jackson thinks Simi will improve on last year's 5-5 recordas he has seen many people putting in hard work over the offseason.

"We have had more people lifting and showing leadership on this team," Jackson said. "The whole team has come together really well. The defense is communicating well with the offense and the seniors are helping the juniors and sophomores."

When Jackson isn't on the football field, there is a good chance he may be on the hardwood court playing basketball.

Though he didn't get much playing time last year, Jackson made the varsity hoops squad as a sophomore. Jackson said his coaches have made the time he spends between football, basketball and school very easy.

"Our better athletes at Simi Valley play more than one sport," Borowski said. "There has been no problem with him playing basketball and football at the same time."

The Pioneers also have a new quarterback this year in Brandon

Fricke, who played for Pleasant Valley High in Chico last year. Fricke has liked what he's seen so far from his new teammate.

"He's a very good runner and will be a big part of our offense," Fricke said. "He has a lot more size than any running back I've worked with before."

Jackson said he hasn't received any college offers yet, but some of the colleges he is interested in include UCLA and Arizona.

"He's a great kid and very fun to coach," Borowski said. "I really like that he has gained about 15 pounds over the summer and is really growing into his body. Players like him don't come around that often, and when they do, it's great."