Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2015 RECRUITING ISSUE JUSTIN YOON KICKER 5-11 · 185 MILTON (MASS.) ACADEMY NASHVILLE, TENN. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 1 — ✪ ✪ ✪ — 2 1 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 1 9 ✪ ✪ ✪ — — 8 STATISTICS • Sidelined for most of his senior season with a back injury, but still converted 4 of 6 field goal attempts with a long of 52 yards. • Hit on 9 of 11 field goal attempts, converted 38 of 39 point after tries and added 38 touchbacks on kickoffs as a junior. HONORS • Ranked as the No. 1 kicking prospect in the country by Kohl's Kicking for the class of 2015. • Tabbed as a 2014 Ray Guy ProKicker.com first- team All-American. Was a second-team selection in 2013. • Named a Boston Herald All-Scholastic selection as a junior. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Played in the Under Armour All-American Game Jan. 2 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Made a game-record three field goals (47, 32 and 31 yards) and broke the event's record for the longest field goal with the 47-yard effort in the second quarter. RECRUITMENT • Offered by Notre Dame on June 22, 2014, after an Irish special teams camp and committed two days later to the coaching staff. • Held scholarship offers from Stanford, Boston College, Northwestern and Texas A&M. Also drew Ivy League interest. • Visited Notre Dame officially for the Michigan game on Sept. 6, 2014. • Took unofficial visits during the recruiting pro- cess to Northwestern and Texas A&M. NOTABLE • Born on Oct. 7, 1995. • Played varsity hockey as a freshman at Milton Academy, but decided to play on the junior var- sity squad for the remainder of his time at the school in order to focus on kicking. • Also played soccer until turning to placekicking as an eighth-grader. • Hobbies include karaoke signing. • Is the first Notre Dame player of South Korean decent. 2015 PROJECTION • Expected to handle placekicking duties as a freshman and will compete with Tyler Newsome for the kickoff job. THEY SAID IT Brian Kelly's Comments: "Somebody that will impact us probably more than maybe any one player on this roster. Justin is going to be our kicker and he'll come in and start right away. We think he's the best kicker in the country. We've got a chance to evaluate all the kickers that are out there. The thing that stood out was his strength and accuracy." Tom Lemming Of Prep Football Report: "The best in the country and a huge get to replace Kyle Brindza." Kicking Coach Jamie Kohl's Comments: "He's one of the better prospects to come out of the high school ranks in the past four or five years. When you start separating those guys at the top it's hard with each situation being different. But Justin is very good and should be as game-ready as any high school kicker that we have ever seen."