A few years back, Notre Dame’s WR room was a rollercoaster due to injury woes and inconsistent play. But one standout 1,005-yard WR broke through the barrier – Jordan Faison. His freshman season in 2023 exploded with a 48-yard TD against Louisville, signaling he was here to stay. Now the 183-pound junior is already leaving his mark, even after tough losses to Miami and Texas A&M. While he’s focused on making a season-long impact, the WR coach isn’t holding anything back, pushing him harder than ever.

Although Notre Dame got off to a slow start, with junior WR Jordan Faison managing just 50 yards over the first two games, he turned up the heat last week in their game against Boise State. He snagged six passes for 83 yards. Now, while he’s proven to be a force to be reckoned with, Notre Dame WR coach Mike Brown is hyping him up. He called the receiver a “Pit Bull.”

On October 8, Notre Dame insider Mike Berardino shared that fiery take from Brown. “That dude is a pit bull, man,” said Brown. But the reason? “Anything you ask him to do, he can do it,” explained the WR coach. Then he praised Faison’s fearlessness and physical edge, calling out his ‘unbelievable feel for space’.

He continued, “He’s unafraid, physical,” added Brown. “Guys just slip off him.” Brown can spot a diamond in the rough with over six years of experience coaching WRs at spots like Wisconsin, Cincinnati, and now Notre Dame. Now, while Brown’s words make it clear Faison is mauling defenses, Notre Dame QB CJ Carr’s praise backed it up.

CJ Carr couldn’t help but give Jordan Faison a nickname – the ‘lucky clover.’ “I describe him in the QB room. He’s got like a lucky clover in his back pocket every time because he’s always in the right place,” explained Carr, crediting Faison’s instincts. “He’s always doing what he should do.” But Carr hasn’t stopped praising him yet.

“When you get the ball in his hands, the body control to make a guy miss, he’s always falling forward,” he added with a grin. “He’s just Mr. Consistent.” And Carr’s praise isn’t just words. Faison’s growth backs it up.

Over the past 3 seasons, Jordan Faison has emerged as a go-to playmaker for Marcus Freeman‘s Notre Dame. In 2023, he made nearly 17 yards per reception and added 22 yards on the ground. Then, the following year, he elevated his game with 30 receptions for 356 yards. And this season, Faison keeps delivering, recording 25 catches for 327 yards. While he’s proving he can consistently make big plays with his dual-sport, dynamic skill set, Faison has a clear vision.

Notre Dame junior WR’s thoughts

Jordan Faison is hitting a new gear this season. Last year, he was steady and made his season-best 89 yards against Indiana in the CFP. But this year, in Mike Denbrock’s offense, Faison isn’t just another option. He’s the go-to weapon in a high-powered attack that’s already scored. And Faison’s influence transcends mere stats – he’s a pitbull, as backed by Berardino.

His versatility shone against Arkansas, where he even threw a 40-yard completion on a fake punt, showing he’s a playmaker in more ways than one. “Yeah, it feels great,” said Faison to the media.

“Obviously been putting in work during the season and before the season. Kind of just going through the little things, going through the playbook and whatnot. All of our hard work we’ve put in being able to show is a good thing.” Moreover, his football intelligence has earned him massive trust from his teammates.

He’s been carving out running lanes for Notre Dame’s backfield duo, Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love. But his fearlessness more than makes up for it. “Coach has a little competition with us. Whoever can get more might get a little dinner or something at the end of the season,” stated Faison.

“Everyone has the mentality of going in there and trying to knock you down on your b—. I think that helps our offensive line and our run game develop and hit big plays.” Now, heading into the NC State game, Faison’s mindset is clear. Make every play count.