Jones "Loves" Latest Notre Dame Stop

Micah Jones‍ noticed some changes during his most recent visit to Notre Dame, but all of the reasons the 2018 Irish wide receiver commit chose the school were still there during his trip to South Bend for the Irish’s game against Georgia on Saturday night.

“It went well,” the Illinois native said. “It was a really good atmosphere, I loved everything about it. The fans are amazing.

“I love the new stadium, the new renovations they made. You can definitely notice there is more sound being held in the stadium. It was definitely louder than last year I thought. It was definitely a great atmosphere to be at.”

Jones has been to several Notre Dame games in the past, but this was a bit different.

“I think that was probably the best atmosphere I’ve ever been in for a game,” he said. “There was a lot of Georgia fans as well, so it was a great atmosphere to be in.”

He also saw a new and improved Irish defense.

“I think the defense played really well,” said Jones. “They definitely stepped up from last year. Julian Love played really well, he’s from Chicago, so it was great to see him do really good. On the offensive side of the ball, they had a few places they need to get better. They definitely could get better in some places, but I think they’re going to get it together, but the defense is definitely better.”

This was Jones’ first trip down to South Bend this fall and had him thinking about when his time arrives to be on the field instead of in the stands.

“It was definitely something I was thinking about,” he acknowledged. “Coming out of the tunnel is something I was looking forward to and see myself doing in a couple months, whenever I get down there.”

Jones was also appreciative for the opportunity to spend more time with his future teammates and fellow commits.

“It was great to see them again,” he said. “Every time we get together, it’s a fun time. Derrik (Allen) and Ovie (Oghoufo) are really funny. I got to talk to Phil (Jurkovec) and George (Takacs) and Jack (Lamb) and all of them. I also got to see the new 2019 commits who were there. It was great to meet them and talk to them face to face.”

And he was sure to get in the ear of uncommitted visitors like Houston Griffith, Geordon Porter, Chase Cota and Kalon Gervin.

“I was putting in time with Houston as well as Porter and Chase as well as Kalon,” he said. “Those were the four I really looked at who we needed to get at that moment. I’m sure there were other kids others were on, but those were definitely the four kids I had in mind to talk to.”

He encouraged the uncommitted guys to embrace the experience.

“Just look at the atmosphere, take it all in, see if you could see yourself playing here,” Jones recalled. “You’ve really got to fit in the system, fit in the place you want to play. Notre Dame expects a lot out of you, so you’ve got to know you want to be there. I was just letting them take that all in.”

Despite the loss, Jones felt the Irish did well on the recruiting front.

“I think Kalon liked it. I think Houston liked it as well. I think he had a good official visit. I think Porter really had a good time. I know my dad was talking to his dad a lot with us being wide receivers. I think his dad had a lot to say to my dad and I had a lot to say to him, so it was a great time for him and me.”