SIGNED | DB Jayden Bellamy
DB Jayden Bellamy
Ranking
ISD: 90 – 4-Star
Composite: 88.8 – 3-Star
Vitals
6-0, 175
Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ)
Recruiter
Mike Mickens
Recruitment Rundown
He made an unofficial visit to Notre Dame back in 2019, which stuck with him for a while. The Irish offered in February of 2021.
Rutgers recruited the New Jersey star hard, but this one became a Notre Dame-Penn State battle down the stretch. There were times when it seemed like the Nittany Lions may have held the edge, but an official to South Bend in June - along with his Bergen Catholic teammate Steve Angeli - helped wrap this one up and he committed to Notre Dame a couple weeks later.
Bergen Catholic Head Coach Vito Campanile
“Did I do him a disservice putting him at safety? He doesn't look the part of a strong safety, but he might be the best tackler I've ever coached in 21 years. He gets downhill and he's fearless and he looks like a lean cover guy.”
“I think like a lot of people don't realize how great of a cover kid he is because he's kind of played the quarterback of our defense. The other thing is he's one of only two kids who played both ways for us at Bergen. I think he had six plays of over 50 yards on receptions last year. Steve likes to find him.
“He's just an amazing teammate, an unbelievable character kid. There's no BS to the kid. He's never going to carry on. He's just a humble kid, so quiet and just a great football player.”
ISD Expert Jamie Uyeyama
There is no doubt he is a good football player, but his ceiling is going to be determined by his physical development. He has the speed, recognition and ball skills to eventually become a multi-year starter, but Bellamy has to put in a lot of off the field work to get to that point.
Marcus Freeman and Mike Mickens had a player at Cincinnati in Ahmad Gardner that they can point to how he did what was necessary and then became a top cornerback in college football. If Bellamy follows a similar path, then he has the talent to be a quality starter for the Irish.
Favorite ISD Quote
“I think between all three schools (Notre Dame, Penn State, Rutgers), Notre Dame's academics is way better than all of them in my opinion. Other than that, the bonds that I made with the coaches is what made me choose Notre Dame.
“I feel like I will fit in really well at Notre Dame. They see me as a versatile player. They see me as a slot, out wide, corner and even at safety. I feel like me being able to play four positions will allow me to do more for them.”