Coach | Notre Dame Could Be Fit For 2021 S Jaden Slocum

Jim Rowell believes there could be a potential fit between Jaden Slocum‍ and Notre Dame, which offered the 2021 Georgia safety last week.

“It’s an outstanding program and he’s an outstanding kid, so that’s nice,” said Rowell, who serves as Slocum’s defensive coordinator at Alpharetta High School.

Rowell points to Slocum’s intangibles as to what sets him apart.

“He’s such a leader on the field,” the coach said. “He demands a lot from his teammates and with his natural ability and instincts, he wants to be the quarterback of the defense. He wants to know every single part of it. He wants to work extra. He has that intangible that coaches like in the leadership department.”

He also has the tangibles, which is why he also has offers from schools like Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Stanford among others.

“He’s got great size,” Rowell said. “He works out. He’s on our track team that won State and went to Nationals as well. He has the size and the speed. Physically, he is very gifted.”

Slocum doesn’t turn it down off the field, either.

“In the classroom, he is outstanding,” said Rowell. “I guess you would say his effort and standard is the same in the classroom as it is on the field. He’s got multiple different offers and interest from high academic school like Notre Dame, Georgia Tech. Stanford has been in to see him.

“His parents and himself make academics very important and I think that’s the most important thing to them, which is nice.”

Rowell said the offer from the Irish “brought some excitement.”

“Notre Dame is Notre Dame, so he always brings excitement when you get an offer like that,” he added.

With Slocum running track this spring, college visits may have to wait.

“I really want them to be involved in the sport they’re in,” Rowell explained. “He’s still working out, but we really push that total athlete where I want you to play as many sports as you can.

“I can see him going to a couple of camps this summer, for example, Notre Dame and some others and go from there. I can see him taking official visits more in the fall as opposed to the spring.”