Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 23, 2019 43 PREP PROFILES On Sept. 1, college coaches were able to directly contact class of 2021 recruits via text message and phone call for the first time. The Notre Dame coaching staff made it a priority to contact St. Louis De Smet Jesuit standout Jakailin Johnson, who is ranked as the No. 5 cornerback and No. 64 overall player in the country by Rivals. Getting Johnson, the state of Mis- souri's top prospect in his class, back to South Bend is a priority for the Fighting Irish. He is looking to visit Notre Dame when the USC Trojans come to town Oct. 12. "We're talking about me getting up for a game," Johnson told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "I'm trying to make the USC versus Notre Dame game and see how the atmosphere is." The 6-1, 170-pound four-star re- cruit enjoyed his previous Notre Dame visit in the spring, which helped make the Fighting Irish a true contender in his recruitment. He was on campus March 23 and was able to watch the Fighting Irish during spring ball. "I liked it a lot," Johnson said. "I liked how they run practices and have a lot of academic help. I liked the strength coach a lot, too." Johnson is not focusing on the recruiting process too much this fall. He will do research on his top choices, but he's in no rush to make a decision. "I plan on committing sometime after the season," he noted. "Maybe in the spring — I'm not sure yet." Johnson has an idea of what he is looking for in a college. "The academics, if I can get on the field early or not and the rela- tionships with the coaches," he said when asked what's important to him in his decision-making process. Over the summer, Johnson vis- ited Oklahoma and Ohio State. Both schools are likely to be top contend- ers in Johnson's recruitment, along with Notre Dame. "It was fun. I liked both colleges, the campuses, and how the visits went," he said. "They were saying that I could be a big asset to their teams." Johnson holds offers from, among others, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. — Mike Singer The Fighting Irish are after several elite wide receivers in the 2021 class, and Pickerington (Ohio) Central's Lorenzo Styles Jr. is arguably at the top of that list. Styles is an Ohio State legacy — his father, Lorenzo Styles Sr., played for the Buckeyes in the mid-1990s — but Notre Dame is right there in his re- cruitment. In fact, Styles has locked in a visit to be in South Bend Oct. 12 when the Irish host USC, which is go- ing to be a huge recruiting weekend for Brian Kelly and company. Styles has formed strong rela- tionships with offensive coordina- tor Chip Long and wide receivers coach Del Alexander. The No. 4 wide receiver and No. 28 overall recruit nationally told Blue & Gold Illustrated that he speaks with the Notre Dame staff two to three times per week. "I really like Coach Long and Coach Alexander a lot," Styles said. "I really feel like they can help me improve my game. I think I could bring something to that program. It's not too far, but it's close enough. "I think I could be a playmaker there and I could see myself at Notre Dame." Styles has a high view of Long on and off the field. "I think he's a family man and re- ally religious," Styles said of Long. "I really like what kind of coach he is." With Alexander, Styles likes to talk X's and O's. "That's who I really try to self- correct my game with," Styles ex- plained. "He's just telling me mis- takes that receivers make and I'm happy he's giving me that outlet." Although Ohio State and Notre Dame are currently at the top of Styles' list, another school is still very much in the mix. "I really want to get a better feel for Auburn because I only camped there," he said. "I've been to Ohio State and Notre Dame, so I only plan to visit those schools once or twice, but I want to go to some other schools." Styles knows what he is looking for in a school. "I really want to feel comfortable," he said. "Me and the coaching staff should have a good bond together. I want to be able to grow as an indi- vidual as well as a football player." — Mike Singer Coveted Four-Star Cornerback Plans To Visit South Bend Again Ohio State Legacy Receiver Is Looking Hard At The Fighting Irish "I'm trying to make the USC versus Notre Dame game and see how the atmosphere is." Johnson "I really like Coach [Chip] Long and Coach [DelVaughn] Alexander a lot. I really feel like they can help me improve my game. I think I could bring something to that program." Styles LORENZO STYLES JR. ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Pickerington Central Pickerington, Ohio Status: Offered Class: 2021 Position: Wide Receiver Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 170 Rivals Rankings: No. 2 player in Ohio, and No. 4 wide receiver and No. 28 overall player nationally JAKAILIN JOHNSON ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ De Smet Jesuit St. Louis Status: Offered Class: 2021 Position: Cornerback Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 170 Rivals Rankings: No. 1 player in Missouri, and No. 5 cornerback and No. 64 overall player nationally