2019 DB Kenyatta Watson II Had A Powerful Trip To Notre Dame
2019 Grayson (Ga.) defensive back Kenyatta Watson II has seen it all. The 6-foot-2, 177-pounder has been to multiple schools over the past few years, so it’s hard to catch him off guard.
Well, Notre Dame caught the Loganville native off guard on Saturday.
“It was way beyond my expectations,” Watson told Irish Sports Daily. “I didn’t expect to see everything I saw. Talking with the coaches and the people I was around was great. I wasn’t expecting the facilities and the campus to be as good as they were.”
It wasn’t the glitz and glamour of the visit that impressed Watson, but it was the people and the process within the program.
“A lot of schools have flashy facilities and all this new stuff,” explained Watson. “The thing about Notre Dame’s facilities were the coaches and how well the coaches taught the players.
“One coach might teach flexibility. One coach might teach lifting, and the other might teach speed and agility. At the end of the day, they all come together to make the players they do.
“It wasn’t about how good the weight room looked, but it was about the people helping you.”
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and defensive backs coach Todd Lyght also made a powerful impact on Watson.
Watson had known about Lyght’s background as the two have gotten to know each other, but listening to Kelly relate it to himself was a significant moment.
“It was mostly about Notre Dame being the place I want to be if I want to get a great education and go to places coach Lyght has been,” Watson said of his conversation with Kelly. “Coach Lyght has done it all. He played college football, been in the NFL, been an All-American and won a Super Bowl. He’s done it all.
“Coach Kelly said it was the place to be to get a great education and play great football.”
Another significant moment on Watson’s visit was getting to step inside Notre Dame Stadium. In fact, the moment left the Grayson star speechless.
“Being in one of the longest standing stadiums in America was really – I can’t even find the words for it,” stated Watson. “It was really nice to be there. It was much bigger than I expected it to be.
“It felt like a lot of memories were on that field.”
Watson decommitted from Florida State earlier this month, and he’s not in a rush to make a decision, but Notre Dame has firmly entered the race.
“I don’t really have a school that’s above anyone else,” Watson said. “Notre Dame is definitely a top school on my list now that I have been there and seen the campus.”
“I do think I will take an official to Notre Dame. I would want it to be during the season to get the game atmosphere.”
Watson also added South Bend was a place he could see himself.
“Notre Dame is definitely one of those schools I will consider going to, especially after being there this weekend and seeing everything I did,” said Watson. “After talking with the coaches, I could see myself at Notre Dame.”