RECRUITING

Four-star 2018 wide receiver Micah Jones commits to Notre Dame

Mike Vorel

South Bend Tribune

Micah Jones provided the explanation point at the end of a banner week for Notre Dame football.

Jones — a 6-foot-5, 195-pound wide receiver from Gurnee, Ill. — verbally committed to the Irish at his high school on Friday, becoming the fourth 2018 prospect to pledge to Notre Dame since Monday morning.

"I loved Notre Dame and I've loved it ever since I got my offer. I really did," Jones said in a text message to the Tribune on Friday night. "Even with the coaching changes I still loved the university and the atmosphere around the football program. I just moved up (my commitment date), because I was so sure of my decision."

A Warren Township High School standout, Jones is regarded as a four-star recruit, the No. 27 wide receiver nationally and the No. 158 overall prospect in the 2018 class by Rivals, as well as a four-star recruit, the No. 47 wide receiver and the No. 289 overall prospect by 247Sports.

"Micah is one of the best players in Illinois and the most reliable receiver in the state," said CBS Sports Network recruiting analyst Tom Lemming. "He catches everything within his frame. He's a premier red zone-type of receiver."

In the wake of Jones' commitment, Notre Dame's 10-man 2018 class currently ranks second nationally by both Rivals and 247Sports, behind only Penn State.

And once the commitment went official, the tweets started rolling in.

"IrishBouND18 boutta make history," freshman Notre Dame wide receiver Chase Claypool tweeted.

"The IrishBouND18 class is officially crazy man," added 2018 defensive end Malik Vann, one of the top uncommitted Irish targets.

"Business boomin!" Notre Dame defensive end commit Justin Ademilola tweeted.

The timing of Notre Dame's aforementioned boom is no coincidence. Jones visited South Bend for the program's junior day last weekend, surrounding himself with all six existing Irish commits and four more players, two of whom have since committed — cornerback Kalon Gervin and offensive lineman Cole Mabry.

The chemistry among that group, Jones said, was undeniable.

“It was great to see them in person and see how they act,” Jones told the Tribune earlier this week. “I noticed that they all act the same as me, which was great to see. We weren't very different from each other. We fit in well as a group."

While Jones is Notre Dame's first wide receiver commit in 2018, he'll have to fit in with (and beat out) two recent 2017 signees — wide receivers Jafar Armstrong and Michael Young.

The Irish also earned the graduate transfer commitment this week of former Michigan wide receiver Freddy Canteen, who will have two seasons of eligibility once he arrives on campus this summer. Notre Dame's future at the quarterback position may also reside in Jones' class, as four-star 2018 prospect Phil Jurkovec has been committed since May of 2016.

Beyond last weekend's junior day, Jones also visited Notre Dame three times in 2016, including trips for the Irish Invasion camp last June and the Stanford home game in October.

But on Friday, one of Notre Dame's most frequent visitors opted to stay.

"I feel like I know everything,” Jones said of Notre Dame this week. “You can get down to the nitty-gritty and talk about the academics of the university. I breezed over it a little bit. Other than that, I've been there so many times. Every time I just get to learn more. There's nothing that I really look at that I need to know."

Im committed! #tictoc! #GOIRISH pic.twitter.com/YPmM6kcgJZ

— Micah Jones (@mej2018) February 17, 2017

#WeAreND

— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) February 17, 2017

#IrishBouND18 boutta make history.

— 83 (@ChaseClaypool) February 17, 2017

If #IrishBouND18 stays together its gunna be a problem ☘️

— ㅤ (@CjHo1mes) February 17, 2017

Business Boomin! ☘️ ‍♂️

— JUSTIN ADEMILOLA (@JustinAdemilola) February 17, 2017

#Chitown2ND #IrishBouND18 ☘️

— Aaryn Kearney (@aarynkearney) February 17, 2017