Jalen McCain has early offers from North Carolina, Maryland, Rutgers and Cincinnati.
“It’s outstanding,” the 2021 Maryland defensive back says. “It’s a dream come true. I’ve still got a lot of work to do, but I’m really proud of myself for how I got here, what I’ve done, all of the hard work and dedication. I’m just happy, really happy.”
Heading into his sophomore season at The Bullis School in Potomac, Md., has also been in contact with Notre Dame.
“I’ve been talking to the defensive backs coach and the head coach,” the 5-foot-10, 175-pounder explains. “They’ve been saying they really love my film. I haven’t been up there yet, but they would love for me to take a visit.”
In fact, McCain recently received official invitations to get to South Bend for a visit this season, although he doesn’t know exactly when he’ll be able to go.
“I would love to see what the campus is like,” he says. “To be specific, I would like to see the weight room, the school part of the campus, what the dorms look like and I’d love to see the field and the stadium.”
His initial impressions of Notre Dame are overwhelmingly positive.
“My dad really loves Notre Dame and I love Notre Dame,” he says. “I know it has a lot of tradition and a lot of history. I know it’s a Catholic school that is religion-based. I know they’ve got one of the best uniforms in NCAA and I know a lot of players that went there.”
He’s already taken visits to North Carolina, Maryland and Rutgers. He’s also receiving interest from schools like Clemson, Michigan State and Nebraska.
“Coaches love my ball skills,” he says. “They love my leadership, they usually talk about my technique. I play cornerback and safety. They like the way I hit. They just like how I’m an all-around playmaker and I’m always around the ball.”
While he plays both positions now, he’d prefer to stay at cornerback.
“I love corner,” he says.
McCain has a good idea of what he’s looking for when it comes time to pick one school over the rest in the end.
“In the end, my biggest key on where I want to go, I want a school that wants me for me. I want a school that knows what I’m capable of and if they don’t can find out. I want a school that’s going to better me outside of football, not just in football, on the school side of things and getting me a better job. I want a school that’s going to better me for life and also football. I want a school that is going to coach me the right way and just always have my back really if I get hurt or anything.”
