Notre Dame WR Jaden Greathouse Thrilled to Return to Texas to Face Aggies
Folks from Austin don’t typically get along with those who live in College Station, and that will only be highlighted more as Texas and Texas A&M renew their heated rivalry in November.
Notre Dame receiver Jaden Greathouse, an Austin native, will return to the Lone Star State this weekend to face the Aggies. While he might not publicly display any hate for Texas A&M, the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder does remember how his recruitment went.
“They offered me,” stated Greathouse. “But after that, they never really contacted me much or anything.”
Competition aside, Greathouse is also fired up to return to Texas and play two hours from home as he’ll have several family members and friends at Kyle Field on Saturday night.
“I have a lot of friends who go to A&M,” Greathouse said. “I have a lot of friends who will be in Austin driving down to the game, and a lot of family who will be there. I got everybody there.”
The game itself means a great deal as Greathouse is projected to start and it’s a moment he’ll likely remember for the rest of his life.
“It means everything for me,” said Greathouse. “I dreamed to be in the position all my life. Then to be able to go back home and be able to play in front of a bunch of friends and family, it’s everything to me, this opportunity. I’m going to definitely do my best to make the most of it.”
Greathouse will also play his first game in the No. 1 jersey. In high school, Greathouse recorded 4,035 yards and 53 touchdowns at Westlake High School (Texas) wearing No. 9 and then he wore No. 19 as a freshman in 2023.
What inspired the switch? Motivation.
“I like the number,” Greathouse explained. “I feel like if I want to take on a wide receiver 1 position, I gotta be able to wear it on my chest. I gotta be able to take the responsibilities of whatever that comes with. Just take it head on and keep pushing throughout each day and be the best player that I can be.”
Greathouse is ready for more on his plate after playing in 12 games (5 starts) last fall as a true freshman.
There were some growing pains a year ago as Greathouse and his classmates were thrown to the wolves, but the Texas native was also ready for it as he started the year with two touchdowns in the season-opener.
Entering Saturday’s opener, Greathouse feels more confident as a player, but also knows what it takes to be successful at this level.
“Last year, I didn’t have any experience,” said Greathouse, who led Notre Dame in touchdown receptions last fall. “Now I’m just trying to take on a much bigger role for the team in whatever way I can, take on that wide receiver 1 position and be a leader for the rest of my teammates, lead by example, win my reps, make sure I know my assignment. All those kinds of things.
“I’m just trying to be the best player I can be out there each and every single day. Learning how to practice the right way. Learning how to give it your all, 100%, every single play. Just understand what practice habits are supposed to look like so that it will help me in the game.”
A piece of that growth has been working to build a chemistry with new Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard. Greathouse was part of the group that went to Alabama to workout with Leonard in the summer and the two have continued to push each other throughout fall camp.
And the duo has made sure to get on each other about every little detail regardless of how small it may seem.
“Each day we’re getting out there and critiquing new things and just trying to push each other to be the best versions of each other every day, whether that’s with our technique or whether that’s being better leaders and leading the team with our examples and being more vocal,” Greathouse stated. “All those kinds of things. Just finding ways to better each other each and every single day in whatever aspect of our game that is. We’re becoming better because of it.”
Leonard has not only made Greathouse better, but his competitive drive has also been felt throughout the entire team, which is why he was named captain after just eight months in South Bend.
“That’s a testament to the kind of guy that he is,” said Greathouse. “He cares about every single player on the team. He shows that with his actions. To have a guy like that in our locker room, it makes us want to follow him. It doesn’t make us ask any questions about him. We know the kind of guy that he is and we’re willing to trust him with everything that we have.”
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