Pitt FB Recruiting
Defensive End Kaymar Mimes Excited About Pitt Visit
Sixteen players recently signed a letter of intent to play for the Pitt football program. Pat Narduzzi and staff have a handful of additional scholarships and one of the players solidly on their radar is 2018 Long Branch High School (Long Branch, NJ) defensive end Kaymar Mimes (6-foot-5 inches, 230 pounds).
Mimes verbally committed to Rutgers in mid-December but ultimately decided to forego signing his letter of intent. What caused his change of heart? He received a call from a longtime acquaintance, Pat Narduzzi. Mime’s older half-brother, Shilique Calhoun, previously played for Narduzzi at Michigan State. Calhoun was a four-star recruit out of high school, a standout All-Big Ten performer for the Spartans and eventual Oakland Raiders draft pick.
Courtesy of Kaymar Mimes
“I will be visiting Pitt the weekend of January 19th. I’m really excited, really stoked for that honestly,” stated Mimes. “I have always had a relationship with the head coach, Coach Narduzzi. My brother went to Michigan State and the relationship has always been there between us. We first started talking probably a week before the early sign-in date. That’s when I first got in contact with him. My mom and Coach Narduzzi have always been in contact, even since my brother played for him. We have always had a friendly bond.”
Pitt is primarily recruiting Mimes as a defensive end prospect. He’s capable of playing tight end as well but he prefers defense. He has received scholarship offers from Pitt, Rutgers, Wake Forest, Connecticut, Temple and Old Dominion. Boston College recently reached out as well.
“Pitt is recruiting me as a defensive end. They have talked about me maybe playing a little tight end and I don’t mind that at all,” he said. “I like tight end, but I like hitting the quarterback more.”
“I know Pitt is a prestigious football program and they’re a very good academic school. I’m very interested in seeing what it’s like is there.”
Kaymar was asked about his strengths as a defensive end and he stated, “I think I fire off the ball pretty well, fire it far and fire it low. Before I was really weak in hand movement and hand fighting off the line. I think that I definitely, over the summer and over the season, improved a lot. That’s one of my strengths now.”
“I’m a strong pass rusher. It’s something I have worked hard on. I’ve been doing a whole bunch of building upon myself during the summer and during the season and I think it’s really paid off. So, definitely pass rushing, firing off the ball strong, and just toughness. I’m feeling pretty tough.”
Mimes finished the season with 87 tackles, including seven tackles for a loss and 20 sacks, plus four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Long Branch High School is coming off a very successful football season after winning its first NJSIAA Central Group IV championship since 1999.
Mimes is a standout at three-sports and remains active throughout the year. He excels at football, basketball and track. He’s currently a starter on the basketball team. Upon completion of the basketball season, he participates in track and field where he throws the discus and shot put, runs the 4 x 100 relay and high jump. He’s considered one of the top high jumpers in New Jersey.
Long Beach High School Head Football Coach Dan George referred to Kaymar as “A young man that loves to compete.” He indicated that the sky was the limit for the under-the-radar prospect once he opts to focus on nothing but football. Mimes is an exceptional student that will finish in the top 25 of his class of nearly 400 students.
“I’m excited to visit Pitt,” he said. “I know it’s a program on the rise. I’m looking forward to seeing what they have to offer.”
Harry Psaros can be found on Twitter at @PittGuru
