Notre Dame Visit Puts Irish in Strong Position for 2026 WR Jayden Warren
Life moves quickly in college football recruiting and 2026 Iowa Colony (Texas) receiver Jayden Warren is a prime example.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder turned heads last fall with 613 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns. This spring, he put up elite track times, 10.1 and 10.23 seconds in the 100 meters, and cemented his status as one of the fastest prospects in the country.
Notre Dame offered Warren on April 21st, and the Irish immediately became a major player in his recruitment.
Earlier this week, Warren got his first look at Notre Dame and it didn’t disappoint the speedster.
“I was really excited to visit Indiana for the first time,” Warren told ISD. “It was something I was really looking forward to getting up there to see the culture and the football aspect of Notre Dame. One thing I knew about Notre Dame was the academic piece. I know if I were to go to Notre Dame, my academics would be taken care of.
“The football history at Notre Dame is something to be studied. It’s great up there. The people, I felt like I never met a stranger. People bond together well, so you don’t feel like a stranger.”
During his trip, the Texas native ran into Notre Dame legend Rocket Ismail, who was on campus for Fantasy Camp.
It’s not often The Rocket meets someone who is faster than him, but Warren would be one of the few.
“I had just seen Rocket’s trophies and his name on a campus tour,” said Warren. “My host then introduced me to him, so it was cool to be in his presence, knowing what he had accomplished for Notre Dame. It was a good experience.”
Warren was part of a light visit weekend, which allowed plenty of time around the coaching staff. Notre Dame receivers coach Mike Brown’s message was about what the university could do for Warren on and off the field.
“They touched on the academic aspect,” Warren explained. “They have the No. 1 graduation rate in the country. Coach Brown showed me a presentation of some of the receivers he had drafted. The development from when they came into college and when they left was great. They didn’t even look like the same person. I know if I go to Notre Dame, the development aspect will be there.”
Notre Dame’s culture radiated throughout The Gug and everywhere Warren went. Head coach Marcus Freeman’s conversation with Warren centered around the strong culture in the building and how it allowed the Irish to overachieve last fall.
“The culture of Notre Dame just has great and humble people,” Warren stated. “I had a chance to be around the football team. They all meshed together. The chemistry of the football team is so good. That’s what got them so far into the playoffs and to the championship.
“One thing Coach Freeman told me was that Notre Dame wasn’t the most talented team, but they feel like they had the best chemistry and that’s what got them so far. I really saw that in the workout I went to.”
Notre Dame didn’t shy away from the challenge of its academic standards. In fact, it was another positive in Warren’s eyes.
“A lot of people, when they get to college, want to take the shorter end because they want to play football,” Warren explained. “That’s not how it is at Notre Dame. In college, you can take online classes and Coach Freeman told me he promotes kids to go to class in person. A lot of people outside of Notre Dame say it’s hard to get an education there, but it can’t be that hard when they have the No. 1 graduation rate.”
So, did Notre Dame do enough to earn an official visit?
Yes, and it’s already locked in.
“We booked June 17-19 because my weekends were already booked when they offered me,” said Warren. “I talked to Coach Freeman and Coach Brown, and they wanted me to get up for a midweek, and we got that done.”
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