2020 NJ QB Has Connection To ND QB

Long before Notre Dame fans found out the kind of player and person Brandon Wimbush was, Connor Katz‍ knew.

“My dad coached Brandon Wimbush at St. Peter’s Prep, so when I was on the sidelines at the games, I used to talk to him and he has become one of my idols,” the 2020 New Jersey quarterback said.

“I was just an average kid on the sideline and he found the time to talk to me at halftime and throw with me in warming up. It wasn’t so much what he did on the field, even though he is an amazing player, but the stuff that he did off the field that I remember about him.”

Katz will get the chance to reconnect with Wimbush this weekend, when he travels to South Bend for Notre Dame’s home finale against Navy.

Wimbush’s presence with the Irish helped sparked Katz’s interest in Notre Dame.

“It is the fact that he is so good, and still is such a good person off the field,” he said.

“I have been in contact with the recruiting coordinators; they sent me an email inviting me to the game.”

Going into the visit, the Cranford High School standout knows what Notre Dame is all about, but has a few things he would like to experience and see while in South Bend.

“I know that they have a long history of winning, they have a great tradition of great academics and also produce great men,” Katz explained. “I want to enjoy the overall game day at Notre Dame and see the great sights that you hear everyone talking about like Touchdown Jesus specifically.”

Katz saw his sophomore season end early because injury, but has been working hard to get back where he was before the injury so he can continue to prove he has what it takes to get to the next level.

“I broke my arm halfway through my second game and got metal put in my arm so my season got cut short, but I made the most of my opportunities and I think I did pretty well,” expressed Katz. “The big thing the doctor said was going to be an issue was my grip, so I have been doing a lot of grip strength and strengthen it back to what it was.”

When the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder is healthy on the field, it is not just measureables that coaches are impressed by, but his knowledge of the game and natural ability as well.

“They like my decision-making and my pocket presence,” he said. “I am able to move pretty well and avoid pressure.”

Katz is still waiting for his first offer, but as a sophomore, it is still early and despite his injury, the youngster has been active visiting FBS schools and gaining interest from a few.

“I have been to Penn State, Rutgers, Temple, Maryland and I have been to camps some other places,” he said. “I have Notre Dame this weekend and then I am going to try and go to Rutgers, possibly Pitt or Virginia.” 

Katz has an idea of will be most important when his time comes to pick a college.

“Obviously academics because football doesn’t last forever and there is going to be a day when you can’t play football anymore and having a degree from a place like Notre Dame would be huge,” he said.

“So, academics are going to play a big part and also athletics, but also how I fit into the team and university as a whole.”