Binda Jr. shows patience

Redshirt-senior running back JoJo Binda Jr. explains what led him to play at USD

Chris Spiering / Sports Editor / The USD Vista

As a kid growing up in Providence, Rhode Island, JoJo Binda Jr. looked to football as his escape from reality. According to Binda Jr., not very many people make it out of Rhode Island. Binda Jr. knew that football was going to be his passion and his ticket out, from an early age. 

“Growing up, that is what all my friends did,” Binda Jr. said. “There really isn’t much to do and there is a lot of hard things going on, but the outlet was football for the youth. I really just ended up loving it, I fell in love with the game early and it was a way to keep me out of trouble because of all the hectic stuff going on.” 

Binda Jr. has traveled to and lived on both coasts of the U.S. Growing up on the East Coast, Providence is where Binda Jr. calls home. But when high school came around, he decided to move to Seattle to live with his father. There were a lot of reasons that led to the change, but all of them had one thing in common — JoJo wanted to play football.  

Binda Jr. saw the differences between Providence and Seattle right away.

“I stayed with my dad,” Binda Jr. said. “He was alone at the time, and he had the chance to take me in, and I was going to see a different atmosphere in life. I went from a really poor environment to a very wealthy environment with switching schools.”

Switching schools can come with unexpected difficulties, like adjusting or fitting in. For Binda Jr., the move to Seattle wasn’t about trying to fit in, it was about getting new exposure to showcase his football skills. 

“It just created more opportunity for me,” Binda Jr. said. “Opportunities I didn’t have and there really isn’t any exposure coming out of Rhode Island. Going to Seattle, it was just the best thing for me, even at the time I didn’t think it was because I was so mad that I was leaving home.” 

Binda Jr. transferred to Kamiak High School in Washington, where he finished his high school football career. Playing football there helped him earn an opportunity to play college football, but not at a four-year university. Less than a week after graduating — and not receiving the offers from schools that Binda Jr. desired — he decided to come down the coast to Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo, California. 

Saddleback was where he decided he wanted to play football, but being far from home and playing in California had an effect on Binda Jr.’s decision.

“That was a transition where it turned me from a boy to a man real fast,” Binda Jr. said. “Just figuring out ‘adult’ stuff in different situations. Really understanding the goal in mind, because there aren’t any junior colleges in Washington that have the exposure that California Junior colleges do. I said to myself that I am going to go and see how far this takes me.”

After an impressive first season, Binda Jr. came into his sophomore season confident that he would be able to play at the next level. But after his sophomore season ended, the recruitment process fell short of Binda Jr.’s expectations. Late in the recruiting process, Binda Jr. got a call from Tyler Sutton, the running back’s coach at the University of San Diego. Binda Jr. accepted the offer right away and came down to San Diego for a visit. A few months later, training camp started and Binda Jr. was looking to make his mark. 

Binda Jr.’s first few seasons at USD didn’t live up to what he had hoped, but that didn’t shut him down. Instead, it only motivated him to keep grinding. Most college football teams carry four or five running backs, so that forces some of the back-ups to remain patient. Every player wants to play and be the star, but football is a team sport first and foremost. Every player has their role and sometimes it’s not the role they want, and Binda Jr. knows that.

Binda Jr. is now a senior here in San Diego and his experience here has been full of ups and downs. Whether it was struggling in class, or making memories on the football field, Binda Jr.  will remember it all. 

“I think what I remember the most is how many times I fell,” Binda Jr. said. “I stumbled so many times at this school, but every time I did, I learned from it. I always asked myself how I could improve, and the thing about USD is, if you really take your time and appreciate it, it builds you and really turns you into a man.” 

Both on and off the field, Binda Jr. is determined to prove people wrong by showing how hard he works. 

“I’m probably not the smartest, fastest, or the quickest, but I’m a hard worker,” Binda Jr. said. “Every time I feel like I’m going through a hard time with classes or even a hard time on the field, I reflect back on the day and say that I know there is a better version of me.”

USD head football coach Dale Lindsey has a saying that motivates Binda Jr. and helps him get through the day. 

“I always ask myself how I can chip away and get better,” Binda Jr. said. “What Coach Lindsey says is ‘one percent better each day’ and if I can do that then I can reach that peak of my goal.” 

Binda Jr.’s love for the game of football goes beyond running the ball and scoring touchdowns. He knows that there are multiple ways of making an impact on this football team. Some games will be different than others, and some games force players to have different roles. For Binda Jr., it’s about being the best version of himself while helping this team win football games. 

Binda Jr. is ready for whatever role he is assigned that can have an effect on the rest of the team.

“At the end of the day, it’s a team game,” Binda Jr. said. “If I can’t show the coaches that I am trustworthy and I’m not getting the job done, then I have to be effective in other ways. Whether it’s helping the young guys understand the plays like I do, listening to the coaches, and knowing I can learn more, that helps the process of being patient.” 

That kind of leadership has helped Binda Jr. in his recent success as the Toreros continued to defeat Pioneer Football League (PFL) opponents. It wasn’t until the second half of the season when Binda Jr. got the opportunities to contribute regularly. Almost every week, he did something different to help his team win. 

Binda Jr. had a career-high three rushing touchdowns against Drake University on Nov. 2, when the Bulldogs came into town. On Nov. 9, USD traveled to Stetson University, where Binda Jr. had a career-high rushing performance. He didn’t have a great first half, but in the second half of the game he ran for 225 of his 227 total rushing yards and a touchdown. That is the most rushing yards in a game for a running back since 2016 for the Toreros. 

Binda Jr. was awarded the PFL Offensive Player of the Week honor after the 51-7 victory. He was also an honorable mention for the STATS Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) National Offensive Player of the Week honor as well. That wasn’t all — he added 121 yards and two rushing touchdowns against Morehead State University on Nov. 16. Again in week 13, when the Toreros traveled to the University of Jacksonville, he extended his career high with four rushing touchdowns to tie the school record. He added 147 rushing yards to help him earn the honor of PFL Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. 

Binda Jr. credits his success to the team as a whole. 

“I’m just one of 11 guys,” Binda Jr. said. “So that success goes out to the whole team, not just one guy.” 

Though Binda Jr. credits the whole team for his recent success, he is still joyful that he is being recognized for all his hard work. 

“I think what (these honors) mean to me is definitely seeing the fruits of my labor but also realizing that the job is not done yet,” Binda Jr. said. “Those are some accolades that I can cherish but I sweep them under the rug until it’s time for the next one. As Tom Brady always says: ‘My favorite win is the next one.’”

As Binda Jr. finishes up his senior year he always reminds himself who he is doing this for. 

“Everything that I am doing is for God first,” Binda Jr. said. “Secondly my family, and for every lost one that I had in my life that is not with me anymore.”