Notre Dame announces signing of California wide receiver Rico Flores Jr.
On April 18, Folsom (Calif.) High class of 2023 wide receiver Rico Flores Jr. announced a final-five schools list of Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas and UCLA. And the likes of Alabama, Tennessee, USC, Oregon, Utah and Washington had also offered Flores during his recruiting process.
Couple those offers with his career stats of 201 receptions for 3,222 yards with 34 total scores across 41 games, it’s clear that Notre Dame is getting a talented prospect. He plays a position of need, too.
Despite only visiting Notre Dame once during his recruiting process (his official visit in June), the Irish were able to land Flores and keep him solid throughout the fall. And he signed his letter of intent with Notre Dame this morning, making his commitment to the Fighting Irish official.
Flores, who ranks as the No. 218 overall player and No. 30 wide receiver in America according to the 2023 On3 Consensus, will play in the All-American Bowl in January.
Flores made the MaxPreps’ 2021 spring season California All-State first team. He caught 31 passes for 606 yards and 10 touchdowns during his six-game sophomore season.
He had an outstanding junior season, recording 81 receptions for 1,157 yards and 11 touchdowns in a 15-game season. Flores made the 2021 MaxPreps All Sac-Joaquin Section Football first-team offense.
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And in his senior campaign, he hauled in 72 passes for 1,081 yards and 8 touchdowns in 12 games.
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Chansi Stuckey, Marcus Freeman key for Notre Dame in landing Flores
Notre Dame’s chances to landing Flores were slim to none until the Irish had a coaching change at the top, according to the four-star prospect.
“I’ll be honest, they weren’t even going to make my top 10 until they got the new coaching staff,” Flores previously told Blue & Gold. “I wasn’t really feeling Notre Dame. I liked Coach Del [Alexander] a lot, but I never even talked to Coach [Brian] Kelly. I couldn’t go to a school where I never talked to the head coach.”
Head coach Marcus Freeman was a key piece to Notre Dame earning Flores’ pledge. Receivers coach Chansi Stuckey deserves a lot of credit too.
“Right when he got the job, they were on me,” Flores said about Freeman. “They got on the phone with me two or three times that week. I remember doing a Zoom with Coach Stuckey, and it was just great. They were really showing love. I put trust in them, and we built a great relationship. I see how invested Coach Freeman is in his players and the kids he’s recruiting.”
