Intriguing 2025 ATH Jayce Cora in depth on Notre Dame offer, interest
Saturday marks a very important day not only in the recruitment of Naples (Fla.) Lely class of 2025 athlete Jayce Cora but in his football career in general, if you will.
Up to this point, Cora has never taken a college game day recruiting visit. But that will change this weekend as he heads up to Notre Dame to see a top-10 matchup between the Fighting Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes. He’s picked quite the big game to attend.
Cora is an intriguing prospect. The 6-4, 180-pounder is being recruited by schools at both wide receiver and safety; Notre Dame is currently after him at safety. His first scholarship offer came from Massachusetts in January and offer No. 2 didn’t come until May 11 when he talked with coaches from Temple. West Virginia and Illinois offered him in the spring, and Louisville offered him at the end of July.
Then a big offer came on Aug. 1.
“I was very surprised to find out I received an offer from Notre Dame — almost unbelievable in the moment,” Cora told Blue & Gold. “I initially found out when I got a phone call from my coach breaking the news to me.
“When he told me, I was caught so off guard but at the same time incredibly happy. It almost came out of nowhere because at the time I was a sophomore and couldn’t have contact with coaches until around that very date.”
And since picking up that offer, he’s been in consistent communication with the staff.
“The school I’ve been in most contact with has definitely got to be Notre Dame,” he said. “I’ve been on phone calls with a few of the coaches on the staff.
“I have been in contact with Coach [Marcus] Freeman, Coach [Chris] O’Leary and Coach [Al] Golden so far. They’re great. They treat me with a lot of respect and courtesy. I’m excited to get to know them a lot more in the future to come.”
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Cora will get to learn a lot more about Notre Dame when he sees campus, gets a feel for the game day traditions and of course watches a great game in South Bend. And in what he’s already done in his research of the school, he’s impressed.
“Notre Dame’s program has an elite reputation,” he said. “They have historic success remaining as one of the best teams in college football every year. Another big point of interest for me — probably the highest — would be they’re educational success.
“I did some research and saw they have one of the highest graduation rates in the whole country as well as a near perfect percentage of students entering into their careers. This is very important to me because I’m not only looking for a good football team but the best opportunity to set my life up after football.”
According to MaxPreps, Cora caught 6 passes for 102 yards and 1 touchdown last fall. Defensively, he posted 25 stops, 2 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions and 4 pass break ups.
“There’s not really a position I would prefer more than the other,” he said about his fit at the next level. “Whatever the team needs more fit and would result in the most beneficial outcome I’m willing to play.”
