The idea was to seek out a challenge, because Javon McKinley understood those are beneficial. Even if they evoke short-term qualms.

This particular one sure did. McKinley, now a Notre Dame fifth-year senior wide receiver, found himself initially swimming upstream when he enrolled in a Chinese class as an undergrad.

“It was definitely a hard class, and I wasn’t sure I’d stay in it to the end,” McKinley said.

But he did. And loved the result.

“I ended up getting a minor in it,” he said.

McKinley’s Twitter name is even written in Chinese characters. He hopes to become bilingual and carve out an international business career. Speaking Chinese is not a skill he initially envisioned, yet it has become invaluable to him.

McKinley, a former top-60 recruit and U.S. Army All-American, came to Notre Dame envisioning something grander than his current usage as a perimeter run blocker. He played 100 snaps in Notre Dame’s first two games, the most of any Irish receiver, and was targeted four times with one catch. He’s a wide receiver in designation only.

On a few occasions, he has lined up in tight, essentially an extra edge blocker. Pro Football Focus gave him a healthy 87.0 run-blocking grade in the first two games.