A guy you rarely heard much about, J.J. Sinclair was the heart and soul of one of the best defenses in the state last year.
The sturdy linebacker led Mainland to a perfect 14-0 record that included the first state championship in program history. His numbers were off the charts: 132 tackles, six sacks, 30 tackles-for-loss. After a solid junior year, Sinclair really came into his own as a senior. He played in every single game and recorded double-digit tackles in six games, and multiple sacks on two occasions. In a 49-20 win over Clearview in the middle of the season, Sinclair racked up 17 tackles.
He was part of a defense that posted six shutouts, including a dominating 56-0 win over Ramapo in the state title game.
Dave O’Sullivan, Staff Writer
