SOUTH BEND, Ind. — DeShone Kizer didn’t impress Notre Dame at first.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound sophomore, who bailed the Fighting Irish out with a game-winning 39-yard touchdown pass last week against Virginia, crossed Notre Dame off his recruiting list after throwing for then-offensive coordinator Chuck Martin.
“I didn’t throw the ball well at all. He left, and Notre Dame left, and I kind of just X-ed them out,” he said.
Although Kizer received his first scholarship offer before even playing a game at Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio, he was a raw talent with a long throwing motion of a baseball pitcher.