Coach | 2022 Notre Dame Athlete Target Jayden Bellamy Is "Super"

Some colleges may see Jayden Bellamy‍ as a cornerback and that may be the 2022 New Jersey athlete’s slight preference, but Bergen Catholic head coach Vito Campanile believes it’ll be hard to fight the temptation of putting the 6-foot-1, 175-pound speedster on offense.

“I just think his double-move ability at wide receiver is so different,” says Campanile. “With any of the double-move routes, he's just got such twitch, it's uncommon. It's uncoachable. Some guys just have that.

“He is dynamic fast...fast, fast, fast guy.”

Last week, Notre Dame extended an offer to Bellamy, who learned of the news from new safeties coach Chris O’Leary and cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens, suggesting the Irish may see him as a defensive back. Still, Campanile wouldn’t be shocked if offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and Brian Kelly liked Bellamy on offense.

“I'll say I'm a lot better coach when he's on the field,” Campanile laughs. “I'll tell you that. I think Coach Rees and Coach Kelly will feel the same way if he plays offense.

“(Defensive coordinator Marcus) Freeman will feel the same way if he plays defense.”

Fortunately for Campanile, he doesn’t have to choose.

“For us, he was the only, full-time two-way guy in the skilled positions,” the coach says. “He could play any position in the back four. He could certainly play wideout. And then, he hits like a truck. He really does. He's really reckless as far as his tackling ability. He's super.

“He has such an unflappable demeanor. The thing that really shows is when the ball's in the air, he never panics, never ever panics. His attitude as a defender, he really does do an incredible job. He's made some great plays as far as pick-sixes and big pass breakups, huge tackles on third down.

“He's just a football player. He really is. That's the best way to define him.”

In addition to Notre Dame, an offer he was waiting on, Bellamy is also high on schools like Maryland, Boston College and Oklahoma.

His father, Jay Bellamy, spent 14 years in the NFL as a safety with the Seahawks and the Saints after playing at Rutgers.

“I think that he's just a great athlete,” Campanile says of the younger Bellamy. “He has an NFL pedigree…He's grown up around football.  Super kid to coach.”

Off the field, Bellamy checks the boxes as well.

“3.75 student, just does everything the right way, real professional approach to it,” says Campanile.

“I couldn't say enough about him. I think he's been awesome.”