Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 8, 2018 43 PREP PROFILES Since the contact period for the class of 2020 began Sept. 1, four-star wide receiver Jordan Johnson of St. Louis De Smet Jesuit has been hear- ing from Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Tom Rees, who recruits his area. "We've talked a little bit," he said. "He just wants me to get out there for a visit and check them out. Also, just stay in contact with them." Though noth- ing is set, Johnson hopes to make it back to South Bend this year. He took in the program's Junior Day in March. "For sure," Johnson answered when asked if he had a desire to check out Notre Dame again. "Maybe more toward the winter when I focus more on the recruitment. I'm more focused on ball right now. "I want to see how the coaches are during game situations, how the players are reacting to the coaches and the atmosphere of the game, so I know how it would feel if I were in that situation and playing ball for them." Though he hasn't returned to South Bend yet, Johnson has kept an eye on the program this fall. "I watched the Michigan game," Johnson said. "It was nice. There was a lot going on, so I wasn't solely focused on the receivers. I was just watching the game." Right now, the 6-2, 182-pounder is putting much of his focus on his ju- nior season and winning a state title. However, the four-star did comment on his interest in the Irish. "It's high," Johnson stated. "They're an amazing school. They could do a lot for me after football. They're amazing at football. It's an all-around great school." Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Wisconsin and others have offered the nation's No. 10 wide receiver and No. 45 overall player. He doesn't have any visits scheduled this fall, but hopes to work some in if his schedule allows and knows what he wants to see. "I'll be looking at the loyalty and how I feel about the school," said Johnson, who anticipates making a college decision next summer. "If it's a great feel and seems like home, that is where I'm going to go." — Corey Bodden Notre Dame is well on its way to signing one of the best offensive line classes in 2019 and will look to do the same in 2020. During the weekend of the Sept. 8 Ball State game, Notre Dame hosted one of the top offensive line pros- pects in the Northeast in Cambridge (Mass.) Buckingham Browne & Nich- ols 2020 big man Zak Zinter. It was the 6-6, 300-pounder's first time in South Bend. "Visiting Notre Dame was awe- some," Zinter told Blue & Gold Illus- trated. "To visit on a game day and be able to see and feel the excitement was incredible. "I was given a great tour of the campus, football facilities and the stadium. While in the stadium, we were able to see the locker room and after the game I was able to go into the locker room with the team and coaches to listen to coach Brian Kel- ly's postgame talk. "I also spoke with coach Jeff Quinn … and was able to have a photo shoot in the Notre Dame uniform." Zinter couldn't pick just one situa- tion that stood out on the trip. "It would be a tie between wearing the uniform during the photo shoot, walking through the tunnel onto the field during warm-up time, getting the chance to follow the team during the players' walk into the stadium, and being able to be with the team postgame in their locker room," he said. "All were really awesome mo- ments." With a trip under his belt, Zinter expressed that adding an Irish schol- arship tender to his recruitment would be very exciting. "An offer from Notre Dame would be amazing," said Zinter, Rivals' No. 43 offensive tackle nationally. "I would have to say their values and expectations for their athletes stand out. Faith, family and football." Ohio State was the most recent school to jump into the mix for the ju- nior. He also claims offers from Penn State, Boston College, Duke and Pur- due, among others. "My recruitment has been such a blessing," Zinter noted. "I never dreamed it would come this early or fast. The offers I have are incredible opportunities, and the connections I've been able to make with so many colleges are awesome." Zinter is planning to visit Stanford, Penn State and Boston College this fall. More trips for games could oc- cur if his schedule permits. It seems Notre Dame would be a program he would strongly consider if an offer does come his way. — Corey Bodden 2020 Rivals100 WR Hoping To Get Back To Notre Dame 2020 Offensive Lineman Had An 'Awesome' Irish Visit ZAK ZINTER ✪ ✪ ✪ Buckingham Browne & Nichols H.S. Cambridge, Mass. Status: Interested Class: 2020 Position: Offensive Tackle Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 300 Rivals Rankings: No. 3 junior in Massachusetts and No. 43 offensive tackle in the country JORDAN JOHNSON ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ De Smet Jesuit H.S. St. Louis Status: Offered Class: 2020 Position: Wide Receiver Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 182 Rivals Rankings: No. 10 wide receiver and No. 45 overall junior in the nation "They're an amazing school. They could do a lot for me after foot- ball. They're amazing at football. It's an all-around great school." JOHNSON ON NOTRE DAME