By Casz “C2” Clayton
Cooper City, Fl — At Archbishop McCarthy, the energy on the field is shifting. The spring season has ushered in a new wave of leadership and accountability—especially along the defensive line, where rising junior Kevin Campbell Jr. is quickly emerging as the anchor of the unit.
After wrapping up a solid sophomore season with over 56 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and eight sacks, Campbell is on a mission to level up.
“Practice has been great. Every day is a chance to get better and work on my craft,” Campbell said following a recent spring session. “I’ve been focused on getting stronger, faster, more explosive,
just doing everything I can in the weight room to get to the next level.” Campbell told C2.
But Campbell isn’t doing it alone.
“This whole group pushes each other. It’s not just one guy—you’ve have [Defensive Lineman] Ji’koi Highsmith, Samuel Boatwright, Julian Garcia, Olivier Belizaire… we all bring something and push as one.”
Now entering his senior year in the program, Campbell is embracing his leadership role.
“I’m not a senior yet, but I treat every rep like one. I feel like I’ve got something to prove, and I’m playing with a chip on my shoulder,” he said. “To any scout watching, I’d say I’m explosive off the ball, disruptive, and still hungry to grow.”
56 Tackles, 8 Sacks, 23 TFLs
Helping guide that development is defensive line coach Patrick Cooney, who recently stepped into a more active coaching role after previously working behind the scenes in recruitment.
“It’s our first spring with some new staff roles, but the core of this team has been together,” Cooney said. “We didn’t lose much. We’re actually bringing back a lot of starters.”
One key area of focus for Coach Cooney this offseason? Finishing plays.
“We had a ton of QB pressures last year, but I want those to turn into sacks. We’re aiming to improve across the board—sacks, TFLs, everything. The expectation is to take another leap this season.”
Cooney, who’s attended Coaches clinics and camps at programs like Georgia Tech, FAU, and the University of Miami, has brought that knowledge directly to his players—and plans to take them to those camps, too.
“These guys are maturing,” he said. “They’re coachable. They’re starting to understand why we do things, not just how. I’m proud of that.”
While Campbell may still fly under the radar nationally, his impact on the field is hard to miss—and Cooney believes his time is coming.
“He didn’t get to go on our college tour last year, but this year he will. Coaches are already asking about him,” Cooney said. “He’s the type of guy who does the dirty work inside, and it shows up in the film—even if it doesn’t always show up in headlines.”
Beyond the Xs and Os, Cooney is passionate about doing right by his players. His message to other coaches? Be transparent.
“Teach your kids to ask college coaches: ‘What do I need to do to get offered?’ Don’t just talk at them, make sure they hear it from the source,” he said. “The kids control their own recruitment. Our job is to guide, not sugarcoat.”
With a reloaded defensive front, a driven leader in Campbell, and a staff focused on development and exposure, Archbishop McCarthy’s trenches could be the story this fall.
Keep your eyes on Kevin Campbell Jr. and the rising talent behind him as spring ball kicks off. The Mavericks are set to take the field for their spring game on Wednesday, May 21st at 6 PM at Bishop Verot.
