Notre Dame’s cookout recruiting event on July 27 had been hyped up for weeks, but what flew under the radar was that the Fighting Irish had a few players work out for the coaching staff.
Avery Johnson went into this week not planning on throwing for the Notre Dame coaching staff. However, that’s exactly what the class of 2023 quarterback from Maize (Kan.) High ended up doing.
“Coach [Tommy] Rees asked me Monday if I wanted to throw, and obviously, I took that opportunity,” Johnson said. “When I got there, he asked me if I wanted to run the 40 and do the broad jump and shuttle, and with my competitive nature, I didn’t want to turn any of that down.”
Johnson reports that he ran a 4.60 in the 40-yard dash, which validates his speed as a dual-threat quarterback.
“We started off with a couple of drills, and then I was throwing to stationary receivers,” continued Johnson. “I got with this 2024 tight end [Jack Larsen] and threw to him, and he did well. Overall, I had a pretty good day.”
The visit ended with Johnson receiving an offer from Notre Dame, so it certainly was a successful visit.
“It didn’t happen until the very end of the visit,” Johnson said about receiving his verbal scholarship offer from the Irish. “He told me that he talked to Coach [Brian] Kelly, and they chatted about me for a little bit. Coach Kelly came over and talked to me and my family for a little bit and said he wanted to offer me a scholarship. I was smiling from ear to ear; I couldn’t be more excited and blessed.”
Johnson wasn’t sure if he’d receive an offer from Notre Dame, but he was glad he was able to compete for it.
“When I’m coming into a visit, I’m wanting to meet the coaches and build relationships,” Johnson explained. “Obviously, if I like the place, I’m going to want the offer, but I think you have to go in with a mindset where you have to earn the offer.
“I was trying to the best of my abilities to earn the offer, and it paid off in the end.”
Johnson’s competitive spirit drives him. He also believes it drives Irish offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees.
“The thing I like most about Coach Rees is that he’s like me in that sense that we have a very competitive nature,” added Johnson. Whenever you can be on the same page as the person calling plays, an offense can be really dangerous. I feel like we can really get along as people and be dangerous to the college football world.”
Notre Dame is the 14th school to offer Johnson, who has visited the likes of Minnesota, Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Florida State and Kansas State this summer. He has several schools to compare Notre Dame to and left South Bend with a high view of the university.
“I was very impressed,” he said. “We saw so much, but at the same time, so little. There’s so much history and culture behind the university of Notre Dame that we only got a small glimpse of it. I just want to come back for a game this year so I can see the game environment. The videos we saw of it aren’t going to be enough. I want to come back and take it in fully.
“I was very impressed with all of the campus, facilities and coaches. They definitely made sure I had a good time and took care of me. I’m very thankful for that.”
The quarterback position typically has the earliest commitments, but that might not be the case for passers in the 2023 class because many of them are just starting to take their first recruiting visits due to the NCAA’s emergency dead period from March 2020 to May 2021.
But Johnson is in no rush to make a decision.
“I’m going to see how my junior season goes and plan on committing after it and then take an official visit to that school next year,” he explained. “I’m going to evaluate my options to the best of my abilities and make sure I make the right decision.”
During an 11-game season in 2020, Johnson completed 117 of 207 passes and accounted for 2,109 yards, 25 passing touchdowns and three interceptions. He also added 10 scores on the ground.
On the basketball court, he averaged 13.2 points per game and 3.2 assists per game last season. He led the Eagles to a 23-2 record capped off with a Kansas class 5A state championship. He was named the most outstanding player in the 5A state tournament. He led his team with 17 points in its 55-43 state championship triumph.
Johnson also plays baseball for Maize and was named to the 2021 Wichita Eagle high school baseball All-Metro second-team for his efforts in the outfield.
Johnson is Notre Dame’s fourth quarterback offer in the 2023 class.
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