
By Rubin E. Grant
While Jeremiah Gibbs was sitting out the 2018 high school football season at John Carroll Catholic after transferring from a school in Maryland, Cavaliers coach Logan Colafrancesco knew a gifted athlete had joined his team.
“I saw he had the ability to be good,” Colafrancesco said. Even so, the coach had his reservations.
“Not seeing him in a game situation, I didn’t know how good,” Colafrancesco said.
Gibbs was ineligible during the 2018 season because of Alabama High School Athletic Association transfer rules. He could practice with the Cavaliers but was not allowed to play in any games.
In the Cavaliers’ first game this season, Gibbs, a 5-foot-8-inch, 175-pound junior running back/receiver, finally got to play. He made a smashing debut, wowing Colafrancesco and surprising himself.
Gibbs rushed 22 times for 237 yards and scored all five John Carroll touchdowns, leading the Cavaliers to a 35-21 victory at St. Clair County. Gibbs scored on runs of 66, 5, 25, 1 and 67 yards. His first three touchdowns came in the first quarter.
“He was unbelievable,” Colafrancesco said.
“I just came out playing my best,” Gibbs said. “I knew I could do it if I put my mind to it, but I surprised myself with the five touchdowns.”
The next week, Gibbs turned in another virtuoso performance. He caught four passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns and added a punt return for a touchdown in a 27-21 victory against Leeds.
Although the Cavaliers (2-6, 0-5 Class 5A, Region 4) have lost their past six games since their 2-0 start, Gibbs has continued to produce. He has more than 900 all-purpose yards and has scored 15 touchdowns this season.
“He’s doing a good job,” Colafrancesco said. “He’s fast, he’s quick, he’s got good muscles and he’s elusive. He’s had some fumbling issues, so needs to hold onto the football.”
Gibbs spoke modestly about his performance this season.
“I think I’ve played fairly well,” he said. “I’m doing the best I can to help the team any way I can.”
Gibbs went to Saint John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., and then attended Capital Christian Academy in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He transferred to John Carroll when his father, Charles Gibbs, accepted a job at Miles College.
It Took Some Adjusting
It wasn’t easy for Jeremiah Gibbs to practice and not play last year.
“Sitting out last year was hard, but I knew I had to practice to get better,” Gibbs said. “I worked hard on the scout team to help my teammates get ready for games.”
Gibbs also had to adjust to living in the Deep South.
“Coming here was a big transition,” he said. “It’s a lot different here than there. There are fewer places to see here than in Maryland. I’ve had to adjust to a slower pace of life.”
Attending John Carroll, helped ease the transition.
“I love John Carroll,” Gibbs said. “The people are nice and I’ve made a lot of friends there. It’s a great school.”
Gibbs has bulked up since arriving at John Carroll, enabling him to become a better football player.
“I was on the freshman team at Saint John’s,” he said. “I started the first couple of games, but I wasn’t as good as I am now. I was smaller. I wasn’t going to play anywhere until I got bigger.
“My dad came up with a plan and I stuck to the plan. I get up at six in morning, working out with dad. Now I can bench press 235 pounds and squat 415.”
Gibbs has good speed — he runs the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds — and is a breakaway threat any time he has the ball.
“I’m more of an outside runner and sometimes I play slot receiver and catch quick screens,” he said. “That allows to get outside.”
John Carroll will play host to Wenonah in a region game Friday, then close its season next week with a region game on the road against Ramsay.
“We had a pretty good start,” Gibbs said. “Since then it’s been a little rough. We need to finish these last two games strong.”