Kendrick Joseph Jr. has been a mainstay contributor for St. James since earning playing time right way as a freshman, but has also had to show patience and perseverance through injuries along the way.
But those hurdles, some of which limited his offseason camp opportunities, could only delay aspects of his recruiting process, not deny his path to the next level.
Joseph’s first couple college offers arrived early this year, including Old Dominion, which made its move in mid-February, hosted him on a visit this past weekend and earned his commitment Sunday.
“I’ve been through a lot of adversity no doubt, but I kept my faith in God, and this opportunity means the world to me because I’ve been working so hard for this since I was 4 years old,” he said. “Of course this has been a week full of emotions, and I’m still processing, but I’m very excited and pumped for the next chapter of my career. And, also, I want to be a role model for upcoming athletes that just because you don’t have stars, that doesn’t mean you can’t fulfill your dreams.”
The 6-foot, 180-pound versatile athlete who has excelled as running back, cornerback and safety for his Wildcats said the Norfolk, Va., program, though more than 1,000 miles from Beautiful Downtown Vacherie, quickly felt like a fit and potential home away from home.
That immediate comfort level and sense of connectedness throughout the staff and roster made Joseph feel confident in pulling the trigger on a pledge even before high school spring practices or summer college camps.
“What stood out was how family-oriented the program was,” he said. “Everybody was one. It was a warm welcoming. All of the coaches showed love. All of the coaches were genuine, and I felt comfortable. Not just the coaches, though — the assistant recruiters, the GMs and many others. I also liked the culture. It was a very nice experience, and it’s definitely a place I can see myself being.
St. James DB/ATH Kendrick Joseph Jr. has been among the the Wildcats’ talented 2027 prospects who has been a contributor since freshman year. (Photo: Courtesy of St. James High)
“The players were respectful, hard-working and dedicated and worked as one. Nobody was an oddball. One person messed up, they all did. The coaches coach very hard and want the best, even beyond football. Also, academics played a big part. They are one of the top program for academics in the Sun Belt Conference.”
The relationships and trust with coaches was particularly critical given the distance from home.
“Honestly, it means a lot to me,” he explained. “Being away from home for a first time is a big change, so having that strong connection with the coaches and everyone there would make it way easier. And having those connections a of now gave me a sense of comfort and made me feel like I wouldn’t be just going somewhere new, but somewhere I could actually call home. Knowing I’m around people who genuinely support me and want the best for me, it makes the whole transition feel a lot less overwhelming.”
Joseph’s biggest production early in high school came in the backfield where he rushed for more than 750 yards and five touchdowns and added another 80 yards and a score as a pass-catcher.
But he’s taken on an increased role in the secondary — all over the secondary — during the course of his career, and the Monarchs coaches have a vision for him there sooner than later.
“The fit and plan is to be a versatile safety and to play early,” he said. “The things that stood out to them was my physicality, effort, athleticism and my ability to cover and tackle. They see me fitting in at the strong safety spot. They run a three-safety scheme, which what I can bring there is being able to play at any one of those spots.”