Coach | 2026 Notre Dame WR Target Jordon Gidron The “Total Package”

If you ask Derek Howard, Jordon Gidron‍ is the quintessential “total package” as a college football recruit.

“Jordon is definitely a unique talent,” the head coach of Ridge View (S.C.) High School says of Gidron, a 2026 receiver prospect. 

“I think for us, as good of an athlete as he is, he's 10 times a better person. You're talking about a kid who is ranked in the top 5 percent of his class. He's extremely humble. He's hardworking. He's been a joy to coach the last couple of years, and then he's got a pretty cool personality as well. Jordon's a really good all-around young man.”

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Gidron picked up an offer from Notre Dame last week. He also has offers from schools like South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Miami, LSU, Oklahoma and Stanford among several others.

Having leaders like Gidron, with the kind of accolades he has, impacts the entire program.

“It always helps when your best players are your best people,” Howard says. “That sets a great example of how everybody else should be in the program. That's kind of where we are. 

“It's not just Jordon, we're at a point where our quarterback, our best receivers, our best skill kids, our best linemen happen to also be scholar-athletes. Having your best people as your best players sets the tone for your program.”

On the field, Gidron certainly has the tools to be a big-time receiver at the next level.

“You're talking about a kid who's running a 10.5,” says Howard.” He won the state in the 100 and 200 last year as a sophomore, and he's 6-2, 190 pounds. He benches well above 225. He squats in the 400s. 

“Jordon's a physical specimen. He's pretty much able to do whatever he wants to do. He's got great hands and he's got great knowledge for the game.”

Even with so many opportunities, Howard believes the offer from the Irish is one that will catch Gidron’s attention.

“Jordon's a knowledgeable kid, so I think he understands that getting an offer from a program like Notre Dame, one of those bluebloods, that's a big deal,” he says. “Obviously a kid who's got several top-notch SEC offers and ACC offers, he definitely knows it, but he's also very humble. I'm sure he appreciates another program seeing his talents and giving him an opportunity to possibly build a relationship with him.”

Gidron isn’t quite sure which schools he’ll visit this fall and beyond, but Howard could see South Bend ending up on an itinerary.

“He's blessed,” his coach says. “Not only is he a great young man, but he's got great parents as well. 

“If they want to get to Notre Dame, I'm sure they'll find a way. They're a well-informed group, so if Notre Dame is able to check all the boxes on what Jordon wants, then his parents will do everything that they can to make sure that they get him there.”