Coach | Notre Dame WR Commit Isiah Canion Will Keep Getting Better

When DJ Hazelray arrived at Warner Robins High School as part of the school’s new staff back in February, it didn’t take long for the offensive coordinator to realize he had a stud in Isiah Canion‍.

The 2024 Georgia athlete spent the end of the prior season playing quarterback for Warner Robins, but Hazelray recognized Canion had immense potential at his natural position, receiver. Hazelray and the new staff quickly worked the phones, alerting their college contacts of Canion. New head coach Shane Sams had a relationship with Irish receivers coach Chansi Stuckey and that helped pave the way for Notre Dame to land a commitment from Canion.

“The connection he had with with Coach Stuckey was big and obviously Coach Stuckey is from Warner Robins,” Hazelray says. “Him and Coach had a connection and they showed him love. He just kind of felt at home. Plus, the education piece of Notre Dame is big for him.

“He's very big on academics; him and his mom. So, that was also a bonus outside of the football piece.”

Hazelray acknowledged Stuckey played a “very big” role.

“I think having Coach Stuckey there, I think kind of sealed the deal,” he says.

And while Hazelray was immediately impressed with what he saw from Canion, he believes the future is even brighter.

“The Isiah everybody sees today is nowhere near what he's going turn into down the road,” says Hazelray. “I mean, standing at 6-3, 195 pounds. And when I say the joker can roll, like he has it.”

And part of that “it” is a desire to keep working.

“He wants to get better,” Hazelray says, noting Canion was getting plenty of football work in even during baseball season.

“Every day after baseball practice, 6:00, 7:00 pm, he was coming back asking to watch film, to get on the JUGs machine to work on certain things. I was amazed to see that from the kid. He's hungry and so with that work ethic, it's only going to produce better and better results.”

That put together with his physical gifts equates to quite the prospect in Hazelray’s eyes.

“I'm just telling you, the sky's the limit,” he says. “His upside is so high, man. He's going to make the NFL someday if he wants it.

“All of those measurables along with the speed and the work ethic, it is going to produce great results.”

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