Coach | 2026 NJ DE Jermaine Kinsler A Rare Prospect

You just don’t find a lot of players like Jermaine Kinsler‍, according to Bergen Catholic head coach Vito Campanile.

“A kid who’s legitimately 6-6-plus in 10th grade, those guys are unicorns,” Campanile says of the 2026 New Jersey defensive end. “You can't find that guy. And he's thick. He's got great quickness and he's got unbelievable hand-eye coordination. 

“I think he's still growing into his body at 260, as scary as that sounds. How big does he get? I don't know, but you can tell he is not done, that's for damn sure. I couldn't be more excited about him.”

Many schools have found Kinsler and many are excited about him too, including Notre Dame, which offered Kinsler as part of its Pot of Gold push on Sunday.

Kinsler’s offer sheet also includes schools like Florida, Florida State, Miami, Penn State, Tennessee, Boston College and Rutgers among several others. 

Campanile believes Kinsler’s best ball is ahead of him and says it may not be on defense.

“Jermaine, right now is like an untapped talent,” the coach says. “I think people are going to come to find that Jermaine can play a ton of positions. I know a lot of guys like him as an edge player on defense, but I think he's going to turn into an unbelievable tight end as well as an in-line blocker.”

Kinsler, who also plays basketball for the Crusaders, is quiet off the field.

“About as quiet and as reserved of a guy as you're going to find,” Campanile says. “He came up here from Florida and he's a subtle kid. You're not going to get a whole lot out of him. He's got that laid-back country vibe to him, but he's as polite as the day as long, just a great kid.”

The Irish also offered 2026 Bergen Catholic cornerback Jordan Thomas.

“They're both really good character kids,” Campanile says.

And he’s not sure the Irish are done at Bergen Catholic yet.

“I'd be shocked if they don't end up offering CJ Edwards too, who's going to be another guy right along those lines,” he says of another 2026 defensive end.

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