Two sports, one dream: Jordan Faison and Matt Jeffery’s dual-sport journeys at Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - One playbook is tough enough. But for Jordan Faison and Matt Jeffery, why not two?

Both came to Notre Dame to play lacrosse, but found another home on the football field. When Faison looks at Jeffery, he sees a little of himself.

“I’d say Matt and I are pretty similar athletes,” Faison said. “As soon as he stepped on campus and I saw him play both football and lacrosse, I saw a ton of similarities — his quickness, his athleticism and his mindset, too. He’s going to go out there, and no moment is too big for him.”

Jeffery is making the most of his opportunities in an Irish uniform, but playing two sports means twice the commitment. Faison knows what that takes.

“The advice I’d have for him is just to keep his head down and continue working,” Faison said. “It’s a busy schedule. It’s a hard schedule. You’ve got a great group of people here at Notre Dame who want to see you succeed.”

But starting in the same place doesn’t mean ending in the same one. Faison has chosen to focus on football. Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman says that choice is Jeffery’s to make.

“I think Matt is an extremely gifted football player” Freeman said. “They both were primary lacrosse recruits first and walked on to the football team. If Matt gets to the point where he wants to make a decision like that, we’ll fully support him either way.”

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