VERO BEACH – Jermonty Kimbrough Jr. arrived at Vero Beach High late in the summer, just before the start of fall practice.
But the defensive back is not behind as far as his preparation for the upcoming football season.
“It doesn’t feel like I’m behind at all,” Kimbrough said. “My coaches do a good job of coaching me up. All of my teammates do a great job of preparing me. We’re all on the same page.”
The 5-foot-11, 165-pound safety is a welcomed sight in the Vero Beach defensive backfield.
“He got here fairly late in the summer, but what a dawg in how he works,” Vero Beach coach Lenny Jankowski said. “In the summer workouts, he wanted to win every sprint.”
Kimbrough attended the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Camp in West Palm Beach during the summer and had a chance to show his new teammates and coaches his game.
“He’s a physical player,” Jankowski said. “He showed his physicality at team camp.”
“I feel like my strong suit is hitting, but I’m versatile,” Kimbrough said. “I can play the ball deep. It really doesn’t matter. No preference.”
Kimbrough played last season at Royal Palm Beach High where he accumulated 55 tackles (42 solo), 12 pass breakups, a tackle for a loss, a sack and an interception in 12 games.
The prior two seasons, he played at St. Lucie West Centennial for former coach Jacob Turay, now an assistant at Vero Beach.
“The biggest thing that has stuck out to me about Jermonty Kimbrough is I was on the phone with his mom one day and she described her son as a robot,” Turay said. “He’s programmed to give his best effort. He’s programmed to have his best attitude. It’s a joy to be around somebody like that. It makes my job easy.”
“Robot means I wasn’t actually stiff, but I always had a feel for football,” Kimbrough said. “When she means robot, I’m very programmed. If you tell me to do it like this, I’m going to do it like this. I’ve learned to mix it with my aggression and physicality.”
Jankowski said he plans to use Kimbrough as a free safety, but won’t be afraid to play him closer to the ball because of his physical attributes.
“It’s been good,” Kimbrough said of his time at Vero Beach. “Just taking in all of what the coaching has been telling me and learning the scheme fast and easy. Just being smart.”
Smart also defines his work in the classroom. Kimbrough has 23 college offers, including a number from Ivy League schools:
California, Purdue, Appalachian State, Georgia State, Air Force, Army, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Miami (Ohio), Navy, Tulane, Western Kentucky, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Fordham, Mercer, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Samford, Tennessee State and West Georgia.
“He’s got a lot of football savvy,” Jankowski said. “He’s got high academics. High football IQ.”
Kimbrough hopes to make his college decision in September so he can concentrate on his studies and helping Vero Beach win football games.
“It’s a great program here. I came to play with the best,” he said. “I can bring leadership, specific qualities on the field: aggression, playing the ball in the deep part of the field, tackling, special teams, offense, an all-around contributor.”
Kimbrough also can see time on offense as a running back or slot receiver. He rushed 13 times for 109 yards and caught three passes for 90 yards last year for Royal Palm Beach.
“We can use him in a couple of different spots,” Jankowski said. “He’s also a guy who can show up on the offensive side of the ball at times.”
Turay is happy for the reunion with Kimbrough.
“Outstanding athlete. Elite person,” Turay said. “Jermonty is going to bring an instant impact to the team, on the field and off the field, equally as fast. His playmaking abilities speak for themselves. He’s made plenty of plays from his freshman through junior seasons. It’ll be exciting to see what he can do his senior season.
“Off the field he has great leadership qualities. To hold his teammates accountable and push his teammates to be the best versions of themselves.”
“I feel like it’s going well,” Kimbrough said of his move to Vero Beach. “I’m always encouraging the guys, the DBs. The only thing that can stop us right now is us.”
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Super 11: Jermonty Kimbrough brings ‘robot’ work ethic to Vero Beach
Reporting by Dennis Maffezzolli, Special to TC Palm / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dennis Maffezzolli, Special to TC Palm | USA TODAY Network
