Jordan Faison Earns A Notre Dame Football Scholarship
Notre Dame has a new football player on scholarship. Wide receiver Jordan Faison, who came to Notre Dame on a lacrosse scholarship and has been a walk-on with the football team this fall, is now a scholarship football player. Fighting Irish football coach Marcus Freeman made the announcement on Monday.
"Jordan had gotten scholarship offers out of high school by a lot of different football programs,” Freeman began. "But he is a national lacrosse prospect and he was committed to Notre Dame to play lacrosse and we wanted him (to be) part of our football program. So, he’s been a talented individual from the moment he stepped on this campus in fall camp and he has shown that he has a lot of ability.”
The 5-11 Faison had interest from FBS programs like Iowa, Michigan State and Florida Atlantic. Iowa is the only school that offered him out of Pine Crest High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
As with the majority of walk-ons, Faison was primarily a member of Notre Dame’s scout team to start the season, but the wide receiver room has been hit with injuries in recent weeks, which gave him more opportunities to play in Notre Dame’s offense.
"He's continued to improve throughout the first 6-7 weeks of the season and because of some injuries .... three weeks ago he might have been on scout team,” Freeman said. "He was on scout team three weeks ago. Then we had some injuries and we started moving him up with the travel squad and he’s continuously gotten better and gained the trust of his coaches.”
Faison made his season debut last Saturday at Louisville when he hit the field with the Irish offense. His first career reception, a 12-yard gain, converted a 3rd and 8 for the Irish in the second quarter. It was the first 3rd down conversion for the Irish they converted in the game. He been a Louisville defensive back two plays later when Sam Hartman hit him for a 36-yard touchdown pass.
"We knew going into this game, we’re going to play him,” Freeman said. "I couldn’t tell you that he was going to go and score a touchdown and another big catch, but we had a lot of faith and trust that he could perform, or we wouldn’t have put him in there. So, it was really good to see him make those plays. To do them in practice is one, but to make them in the game is another thing and he did it.”
Faison had a full scholarship from Kevin Corrigan’s lacrosse team and was still able to join the football team as a walk-on during fall training camp. He opened many eyes with his speed, route running and ability to catch the ball.
"The ability to play fast is the ability to understand what you’re doing,” Freeman remarked. "So, when we brought him up from the scout team it was because of talent level and then the ability in a couple weeks to show that he can play fast (and) play to the talent level that he has because he can understand what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and how we’re doing it. He's shown the ability to learn it and grasp it, what we’re doing each week in our offensive game plan and then go execute it.”
While Faison is now on a football scholarship, Freeman said he will still play on the Irish lacrosse team next spring.
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