Notre Dame WR Jaden Greathouse Passes First Collegiate Test
Jaden Greathouse had been a hot name dating back to the spring as the early enrollee recorded 11 catches for 118 yards in Notre Dame’s spring game.
Yet, the Texas native still hadn’t done it in a game that mattered, but there was hope that Greathouse would be able to perform under the bright lights.
Well, Greathouse passed his first collegiate test as he recorded three receptions for 68 yards and two touchdowns in Notre Dame’s 42-3 win over Navy on Saturday afternoon in Dublin, Ireland.
“First of all, it starts with God,” stated Greathouse. “He carries me through every single day. Secondly, it starts with everybody in this organization, the coaches and players having trust in me going out there and doing what I’m supposed to. You have to step up to the plate.”
What allowed Greathouse to have success in his first game? Notre Dame’s defense.
“It really just felt like another day,” Greathouse explained. “We have a great defense that we go against every practice. Really having that high level of competition really prepares you for the team you’re going to play. I’ve never gone up against like this, so being able to go against each other every single day and really pushing each other to be our best obviously pays off.”
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has seen Greathouse consistently make plays in the eight months he’s been on campus, so Saturday wasn’t necessarily a surprise. Freeman also hopes it’s just the start of Chansi Stuckey’s makeover in the receiver room.
“To see Jaden Greathouse score two touchdowns today, it’s a reflection of hopefully what Coach Stuckey has done with that room,” said Freeman. “That room is continuing to improve. The protection was good. I think that’s going to be a good momentum builder for next week.”
Greathouse might not have been part of the 2022 game that saw Notre Dame’s offense collapse in the second half, but he did put the final nail in the coffin in the third quarter on Saturday.
Sam Hartman scrambled and hit a wide-open Greathouse for a 20-yard score to put the Irish up 35-0.
“It’s just been something we’ve been working on all week and all through camp,” Greathouse explained. “Coaches have really done a good job of game planning and seeing what coverages they think they were going to do and what plays we have that would work against them. We called it up and I knew exactly what I needed to do and Sam put it on me.”
Hartman has been through the wars of a college football season, but the play of Greathouse and the rest of the Notre Dame offense has him encouraged.
“I think time will tell,” Hartman said. “Again, when you play clean football, good things happen. I think it also goes back to Marist (Liufau) and our defense. To hold an offense and a team like that to only three points makes our job really easy.”
As for scoring two touchdowns in his first game, Greathouse was on cloud nine and coming to the realization that he’s living out his dreams.
“It was amazing,” said Greathouse. “I’ve dreamed of this ever since I was young. The opportunity is finally here. I was able to make the most of it. My teammates helped me. I couldn’t have done it without them lifting me up and elevating my level of play. When we come back to the sideline, everyone is cheering and happy for each other. It’s really a good feeling.”
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