Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2016 RECRUITING ISSUE BY ANDREW IVINS When Mike Sanford was introduced as Notre Dame's offensive coordinator on March 2, 2015, he outlined his goals in South Bend. "I want to contribute in any way I can," he said. "I know that's the com- pany line, but I want to help enhance this offense and hopefully find, along- side [associate head coach] Mike [Den- brock] and the rest offensive staff, the best ways to do things. "I'm honestly not all that concerned about the other stuff. I want to win a championship. However that works out, that's what we'll be in the process of working through." Little did Sanford know that one of his biggest contributions in his first year at Notre Dame would come in the form of a recruit that could eventually help the Irish reach his goal of reaching and winning the College Football Playoff. Sanford played an integral role in the recruitment of Corona (Calif.) Cen- tennial wide receiver Javon McKinley –– the highest ranked offensive pros- pect to ink with the Irish from South- ern California since wide receiver Shaq Evans in 2009 –– and the Rivals100 prospect isn't afraid to admit that the coach was one of the primary reasons why he picked the Irish. "He's just a real funny guy," McKin- ley said four days before he went public with his commitment to Notre Dame at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Jan. 9. "He's a real bubbly dude. He gets to know you real well and Javon McKinley Is Sold On The Total Package At ND McKinley finished his prep career with 3,752 receiving yards and 43 touchdown catches. PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS