Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1210272
40 MARCH 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2020 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY MIKE SINGER St. Louis De Smet Jesuit wide re- ceiver Jordan Johnson visited Notre Dame for the first time as a sopho- more in March 2018. Interestingly enough, he left South Bend not very high on the Fighting Irish. "He actually made it known that he wasn't too much of a fan of [Notre Dame] after his first visit," said Rob- ert Steeples, Johnson's head coach at De Smet. The Notre Dame coaching staff — led by wide receivers coach Del Alex- ander and former offensive coordina- tor Chip Long — continued to recruit Johnson, though. "What Jordan found out was that the initial visit was not really Notre Dame," Steeples explained. "He and his mother were sick, and it was rainy. It's hard to enjoy yourself when you're under the weather." Johnson returned to Notre Dame in January 2019 and had a much better experience. "What stood out was how serious they are about academics and life after football," Johnson said. "And how they're great in both." Notre Dame was able to seal the deal in Johnson's recruitment after he made yet another trip to South Bend in April 2019. This trip was on Notre Dame's dime as it was his of- ficial visit. Johnson originally planned to announce on July 28, his mother 's birthday, but the nation's No. 5 wide receiver and No. 28 overall recruit couldn't wait any longer and com- mitted to the Irish April 6. It was Notre Dame's early offer and perseverance that helped head coach Brian Kelly's squad win out over Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas and others. "They put the offer out there, and instead of waiting for other schools to validate his talent, they decided that this was the type of kid they want and went and got him," Stee- ples said. "He visited early and re- alized that he didn't really like it, but because the offer was early and the visit was early, they gave him enough time to circle back and see more of it." "Notre Dame is home," Johnson added. "The relationship I built with the coaches is strong. It just felt like it was meant to be. It was an oppor- tunity that I couldn't pass up, so I pulled the trigger and shut every- thing down." Rivals ranked Johnson as a four- star prospect and the nation's No. 59 player in March 2019, but after a very strong performance at the Ri- vals Camp Series stop in St. Louis he earned five-star status. "He's incredibly smooth and dy- namic, and he showed great concen- tration making some tough catches," Rivals' analyst Adam Gorney said following the camp. "Coach Brian Kelly is getting an elite weapon." There's not a whole lot that John- son can't do as a wide receiver. "He's complete," Steeples stated. "I've always compared him to a taller Jeremy Maclin [a first-round NFL pick out of Missouri in 2009]. Jordan is a burner, and he has great change of direction. He runs very precise routes in the intermediate level, but you can also get it out to him quick, and he'll make you miss. "One thing I'm really impressed with is his blocking. He gives it all for his teammates. He can impact the Five-Star Wideout Jordan Johnson Circles Back To Notre Dame The Fighting Irish beat out Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas and others to land Johnson, who is the top-rated prospect in their class at No. 28 overall nationally. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM "They put the offer out there, and instead of waiting for other schools to validate his talent, they decided that this was the type of kid they want and went and got him. … They gave him enough time to circle back and see more of it." ST. LOUIS DE SMET JESUIT HEAD COACH ROBERT STEEPLES ON JOHNSON