Swedish Safety Jordan Genmark Heath Picked Up By Notre Dame Fighting Irish

| American Football | 01/27/2017

According to ND Insider’s Tyler James, Swedish safety Jordan Genmark Heath has accepted a scholarship offer from Notre Dame University. 

The Swede finished a sparkling four year high school career at San Diego Cathedral Catholic and had been recruited heavily by a number of major Division I schools including California where Genmark Heath had previously committed.

The 6’2″, 205 lb Heath grew up in Sweden and initially started playing football with the Arlanda Jets organization before his stepfather, Krister Genmark, received a green card through the Diversity Visa Lottery, and moved the family to San Diego in 2013.

So this member of the Swedish U19 national team then could realize his dream and play high school football in the United States.

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The Notre Dame connection was simple. He was a high school teammate of former Notre Dame quarterback Rick Mirer’s son, Morrison Mirer, at San Diego Cathedral Catholic. Rick Mirer wrote on Twitter about the signing:

“This is a really solid kid. He would be a great addition. I’ve been watching him closely.”

 Genmark Heath said in a Twitter post that he reneged on his commitment to Cal because of coaching changes. Cal fired coach Sonny Dykes on Jan. 8 and hired former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox as head coach. He said he evaluated his options with his parents before choosing Notre Dame, which he visited last weekend. As he told explained on Twitter:

“Me and my family have carefully evaluated my opportunities to excel on the next level and come to the conclusion that Notre Dame is a better fit for me. It is with great pride I announce that I will be joining the Fighting Irish this fall.”

This was a welcome signing by the Irish with several players having backed away from commitments recently.

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Jordan Genmark Heath started playing football with the Arlanda Jets in Sweden

CBS Sports Network recruiting analyst Tom Lemming feels it is a good signing for Notre Dame:

“He’s a good, solid guy to bring in. He’s not spectacular, but he’s a good, solid player.”

Genmark Heath, who made an official visit to Notre Dame last weekend, can make the decision official Wednesday on National Signing Day.

 

Roger Kelly is an editor and a writer for AFI. A former PR Director the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League for 7 years, he now lives in Sweden writing about and scouting American Football throughout the world.