Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2017 35 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY COREY BODDEN It is no secret the most fertile recruit- ing grounds each cycle reside in Flor- ida, California and Texas. But college programs can find talented players in every state across the country and the Irish did just that this cycle landing wide receiver Jafar Armstrong from Shawnee Mission (Kan.) Bishop Miege. Armstrong may not have the offer list many would expect from a player who holds the Kansas state record with 45 career receiving touchdowns and is also a three-time all-state selec- tion and a three-time All-USA Kansas offense selection by USA Today. His top offers included Notre Dame, Min- nesota, Missouri, Baylor and Iowa. "If I had the numbers down south or on the coasts, I would have had a lot more options," Armstrong said. "But you can't help that. I'm just go- ing to make the most of my opportu- nity, and God blessed me with great opportunities and choices. "I'm not mad or anything because I see a lot more kids who I think have a chance to play Division I football, but don't get their chance because of where they play. I can't complain at all." While thankful for the scholarships and op- portunities to play col- lege football, Armstrong wants to prove Kansas and the surrounding areas can produce top athletes as well. " O h , a b s o l u t e l y, " Armstrong said if he uses the doubt as mo- tivation. "People will still say, 'Oh he played football in Kansas, he's not that good.' It's fine. When we step on the field, all the talking stops. It's motivation to perform well. "They say people come to Kansas and Missouri for the big offensive line- men, but the receivers, running backs and athletes are here, too. ... When we produce on the field you know it's go- ing to show. People are wondering why these small schools are able to beat these big schools. It's coaching, but it's the players too. They can play at any of the big D-I schools, but were overlooked because of their location." The work he put in will need to be raised. "I feel I can play with anyone," he said. "I just have to stay humble and be con- fident and continue working hard to develop my craft. " Armstrong is the first player who played football in Kansas to sign with Notre Dame since Rivals four- star linebacker Brian Smith of Over- land (Kan.) St. Thomas Aquinas. ✦ JAFAR ARMSTRONG WIDE RECEIVER 6-0 · 170 BISHOP MIEGE H.S. (SHAWNEE MISSION, KAN.) LEE'S SUMMIT, MO. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 77 3 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 75 6 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 254 33 1 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 172 9 MEASURABLES • Per Armstrong, he runs a 4.46 40-yard dash. • Bench pressed a max of 295 pounds and squat- ted a max of 395 pounds this past summer. STATISTICS • Hauled in 54 receptions for 1,277 yards (23.6 yards per catch) and 21 touchdowns as a senior, while leading Bishop Miege to a 12-1 record and its third straight state championship. • Recorded seven games with at least 100 receiv- ing yards during his senior campaign, including 222 yards on eight grabs in the state title game. • As a junior, reeled in 65 receptions for 1,262 yards and 16 touchdowns. • Set the Kansas state record for career touch- down receptions with 45. • Also set the Bishop Miege record for career receiving yards with 3,744, while amassing 172 ca- reer receptions and scoring 50 career touchdowns. HONORS • Received 2016 MaxPreps Medium Schools All- America accolades. • Named the 2016 Kansas Offensive Player of the Year and tabbed as an All-USA Kansas selection each of the past three years by USA Today. • Picked as a 2016 Kansas Football Coaches As- sociation Top 11 selection. • Recognized as a first-team Class 4A DI all-state performer by the Kansas Football Coaches Associa- tion from 2014-16. • Selected as the winner of the 2016 Otis Taylor Award, which is given to the best wide receiver in the Kansas City metro area. • Earned Kansas City Star 2016 first-team All- Metro honors. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Took part in the Rivals Camp Series Kansas City event at Rockhurst High School on May 15, 2016. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on Jan. 29, 2017, following an official visit to South Bend. • Originally committed to Missouri in June 2016, but decommitted on Jan. 28, 2017, during his visit to Notre Dame. Also considered Minnesota, which he visited the week before Notre Dame. • Primarily recruited by offensive coordinator Chip Long and wide receivers coach DelVaughn Alexander. NOTABLE • Born Jan. 5, 1999. • Also participates in track, and won 4A state championships in 2016 in the 100 meters (10.83) and 200 meters (22.13). In addition, he ran on the state champion 4-by-100 relay squad to help Bishop Miege capture the state team title. • Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Tim Grunhard (a starter on the 1988 national champi- onship team) is the offensive line coach at Bishop Miege, where his son Colin Grunhard is a senior and has accepted a preferred walk-on spot at Notre Dame. Armstrong credits the elder Grun- hard for helping him get his Irish offer. 2017 PROJECTION • Armstrong is physically capable of playing as a freshman, but Notre Dame returns good talent and depth at the receiver position. THEY SAID IT Head coach Brian Kelly: "We think Jafar is some- body that could possibly be that 'X' receiver that gives you that deep threat, a guy that can really push the field vertically for us. " Wide receivers coach DelVaughn Alexander: "A strong runner, talented and he's also competitive. But the thing that he brings is a physical pres- ence when you talk about contact courage. He's a seeker of contact. … He's a great fit for Notre Dame because of his courage and toughness." BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "Armstrong does not always play with great speed, but he has excellent ball skills and he knows how to work himself open against the zone. "He put on good weight and added a lot of strength to his game as a senior, which helped him physically overpower opponents. "Combined with his vision and quickness, that strength makes him an effective after-the-catch player. He will need to improve his technique as a route runner in order to maximize his speed, and once that happens his game will take a major step forward." Jafar Armstrong Aims To Prove The Doubters Wrong Armstrong set the Kansas state record for career touchdown recep- tions with 45. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM