Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com DECEMBER 2018 33 PREP PROFILES Notre Dame hosted a long list of recruits over the weekend of the Flor- ida State game Nov. 10, including 2020 safety Kristian Story of Lanett (Ala.) High. Story, the No. 89 overall player and No. 7 athlete in the class of 2020 per Rivals, said he loved what he saw in South Bend. "I was really impressed with Notre Dame," he told Blue & Gold Illus- trated. "I had a great time, and I look forward to going back." Notre Dame extended an offer to Story at the safety position during his visit, and it came personally from Irish head coach Brian Kelly. Story said the tender caught him off guard, but he was thrilled to receive it. "I was shocked. I hadn't really thought about it. It was really big for me," Story said. "I really, really like them." Kelly, Story said, made a huge im- pression on him. "He seemed like a pretty cool guy, and I know he's a good coach," he noted. "I think I'd really like playing for him." Story also got to sit down with Irish safeties coach Terry Joseph, who laid out his coaching philoso- phy for the young Alabama tal- ent. The four-star said it's easy to tell why Notre Dame's safeties love playing for Joseph. "I really like Coach Joseph," Story said. "He talked about how he coaches, and I think he makes it easier on his players." After meeting with the coaches, Story headed into the stadium to watch the Irish dispatch Florida State 42-13. He said seeing a game in Notre Dame Stadium was unlike anything he's experienced previously in his recruitment. "It was really fun," the four-star prospect noted. "I think they have one of the best game-day atmo- spheres I've been to. "I really liked talking to the coaches. I liked the tradition they have and learning more about it that I didn't know already. Around the campus, I got to see what it would be like if I go there." With an offer on the table, the Irish should be a player for Story going throughout the rest of his recruit- ment. — David McKinney Notre Dame made a huge impres- sion on 2021 offensive lineman Jack- son Walls during his visit to South Bend for the Florida State game Nov. 10. The Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview prod- uct said the trip to Notre Dame was one of the best he has taken so far. "That was insane," Walls said of the atmosphere in Notre Dame Sta- dium. "I've been to plenty of other college football games, and that was probably the best atmosphere I've ever experienced." Even though he traveled from Georgia, Walls wasn't thrown off by the cold. "It was great," he told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "We got there Saturday, and it was snowing. That was a cool touch. I really liked it." After getting a tour of campus and the team's facilities, Walls said it's easy to see why so many prospects are eager to play in South Bend. "I can tell they put a lot of effort into making sure they have the best facilities they can have on their cam- pus," he explained. "From walking around the locker room and the fa- cilities, you can tell they really care about what it takes to be a Notre Dame football player." In the weeks leading up to the visit, Walls had been hearing from people in the Notre Dame recruiting office. After frequent communication, he said it was important to him to make the trip. "I've always known about Notre Dame, even though I've lived in Georgia my entire life," Walls said. "I've always thought of it of this re- ally cool place that was really far away. "I'd been getting a lot of interest from their recruiting staff, and it just feels like a home away from home." Walls has been making some early visits, but his recruitment has yet to take off. The Peach State standout is still looking for his first college of- fer, and after spending the weekend in South Bend, the 6-5, 305-pounder said he hopes it will come from Notre Dame. "Any offer would be great," Walls said. "But getting one from Notre Dame, I wouldn't know how to feel. That would be great." — David McKinney Alabama Safety Discusses Irish Visit And Offer Georgia Offensive Lineman Is Hoping For A Notre Dame Offer KRISTIAN STORY ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Lanett H.S. Lannett, Ala. Status: Offered Class: 2020 Position: Safety Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 198 Rivals Rankings: No. 7 ath- lete and No. 89 overall player in the nation JACKSON WALLS Parkview H.S. Lilburn, Ga. Status: Interested Class: 2021 Position: Offensive Tackle Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 305 Rivals Rankings: Currently unrated "I was really impressed with Notre Dame. I had a great time, and I look forward to going back... I really, really like them" STORY "Any offer would be great. But getting one from Notre Dame, I wouldn't know how to feel. That would be great." WALLS