Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 12, 2018 51 PREP PROFILES Notre Dame currently has two wide receivers committed in its 2019 class — Cam Hart and Kendall Ab- dur-Rahman — and the Irish could potentially add one more if the right fit is available. No matter how the current cycle winds up, the offensive staff wants to add top-end playmakers at the position in 2020. On Oct. 21, Notre Dame entered the race for one of the nation's best pass catchers in Fresno (Calif.) San Joaquin Memorial stand- out Jalen McMillan, the nation's No. 22 wide receiver and No. 121 overall player per Rivals. The offer piqued the interest of the 6-2, 175-pounder. "He was very excited," San Joa- quin head coach Anthony Goston told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "His mom and dad are very much about academics. Academics are important to them. "We're a small Catholic school, so he has been in that type of environ- ment. Notre Dame was a very presti- gious scholarship offer for him. They are definitely going to look at Notre Dame and do their research." Though nothing is set, it would not be a surprise to see the Rivals250 prospect take a visit to South Bend af- ter his football season or this spring. While McMillan and his family will make sure to find out all they can about Notre Dame now that an offer has been extended, they will not have to go far to learn more. "I'm a little bit unique because my daughter went to Notre Dame, and she's now back there at law school," Goston explained. "I have some knowledge of the program being around it and if asked I can always give him some insight into the school and the program that I don't have with any other school." McMillan caught 78 passes for 1,810 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2017, and has fol- lowed it up with 53 receptions for 1,025 yards and 15 scores through 10 games this season. With that type of production and his skill set, McMillan has earned scholarships from several other ma- jor programs outside of Notre Dame, including Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Tennessee, USC and Washington. — Corey Bodden Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic 2020 safety Lathan Ransom started hearing from Notre Dame during the beginning of the current football season. Even though wide receivers coach DelVaughn Alexander made his way to Arizona during Notre Dame's bye week, Ransom was still caught off guard Oct. 22 when the two talked and the Irish assistant extended an offer. "Coach Alexander hadn't really talked about offering me," Ransom told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "He's just talked about me as a person. He asked my coach about me and just sized me up to see if I was actually as big as I am on paper. "When he told me I was offered, I was overwhelmed with excitement. I'm a big fan of Notre Dame, and it was cool to get that offer. They don't offer too many people, so for them to come see me and offer me was a blessing. I was very excited." Notre Dame was a program the 6-1, 185-pounder made note of even before the offer came his way. "I like how they are not only tre- mendous on the football field, but they are a tremendous academic school too," Ransom explained. "That means the world to me. Right now, they are arguably the best football program in the nation. You can't go wrong with that." Ransom also has already made a good connection with Alexander. "I like him a lot," he said. "He's a straight-up dude. He's coached at a lot of places and is super knowledgeable. "Our birthdays are on the same day, so that was crazy to learn." Ransom has been watching Notre Dame from afar this year, paying at- tention to their success on the field and defensively. "I like how they fly to the ball," Ransom said. "They are super physi- cal, always playing to win and not taking plays off. Just always compet- ing." Ransom hopes to get a close look at the Irish program following his foot- ball season, but he could be in atten- dance Nov. 24 when the team takes on USC in California. "I would love to get out there," Ransom said of visiting South Bend. "I'll be paying attention to my rela- tionships with the coaches. I want to see what type of defenses they run, the fan base and their academics." Along with Notre Dame, Ransom holds offers from Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Stanford, USC, Utah, Washington and others. — Corey Bodden California Pass Catcher Intrigued By Offer From The Irish Arizona Safety Will Visit Notre Dame After Landing Offer LATHAN RANSOM ✪ ✪ ✪ Salpointe Catholic H.S. Tucson, Ariz. Status: Offered Class: 2020 Position: Safety Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 185 Rivals Rankings: No. 8 player in Arizona and No. 18 safety in the country JALEN MCMILLAN ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ San Joaquin Memorial H.S. Fresno, Calif. Status: Offered Class: 2020 Position: Wide Receiver Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 175 Rivals Rankings: No. 22 wide receiver and No. 121 overall player in the nation "We're a small Catholic school, so he has been in that type of environ- ment. Notre Dame was a very prestigious scholarship offer for him." FRESNO (CALIF.) SAN JOAQUIN MEMORIAL HEAD COACH ANTHONY GOSTON ON MCMILLAN