Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/941859
42 MARCH 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2018 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY COREY BODDEN Like most offensive linemen, John Dirksen takes a business-like attitude to most everything. The 6-5, 303-pounder isn't active on social media and keeps away from the spotlight. He's all about get- ting the job done and doing it well whether that is in football or when he is at home. For Dirksen, it mostly stems from growing up on a dairy farm. Hard work is no stranger to Dirksen and he'll bring a strong work ethic to South Bend in a few months. "I'm not a dairy farmer, but I've been around enough my life," Mar- ion Local head coach Tim Goodwin said. "There's hard workers, blue- collar guys and then there are dairy farmers. They are on a different level because of their commitment and passion for what they do. "It's hard to explain when you have to do what they do every day of the year with the physical work. I've told numerous people this: there isn't going to be one person that out- works John Dirksen. In my heart, I truly believe that." Goodwin has been the head coach of 11 state championship teams, which includes three with Dirksen on them. When Dirksen entered the high school program, Goodwin knew he had a po- tential star in the making. That may be why Dirksen is one of the few fresh- men to start in school history. "He's just been a genetic freak his en- tire life in terms of his size," Goodwin stated. "He's always been a head taller than everyone else his age and 100 pounds heavier. We knew it all along. "We had a quarterback here that was getting recruited by some BCS schools and John was a seventh grader working out and doing agil- ity work. I remember pointing him out to a coach and he said, 'Yeah, he's not coming to our school.' It was a lower-level BCS school." Even though Dirksen isn't talk- ative off the field, the switch turns on when he puts on the pads. "He's not a quiet kid inside the locker room," Goodwin explained. "He's a tremendous leader for us. … John is just a very likeable kid, so people have followed him his whole life. "He started as a freshman on an undefeated team that was coming off an undefeated season. There was a chance for people to be a little jeal- ous and not accepting of John. But that never happened because he's so likeable." Goodwin has no doubts that Dirk- sen will continue to be a voice heard in the locker room once he hits the next level. "He's very high in the leader- ship area as well," Goodwin said. "I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes a team captain at some point." ✦ JOHN DIRKSEN OFFENSIVE TACKLE 6-5 · 303 MARION LOCAL H.S. MARIA STEIN, OHIO RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 37 28 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 54 25 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 36 16 STATISTICS • Was part of an offense that averaged 31.2 points per game while helping Marion Local (15‑0) win the Division VI state championship as a senior. • Missed most of his junior season with a knee injury, but in three games played helped the Flyers to a pair of wins while averaging 29.0 points per game. Marion Local (14‑1) went on to capture the Division VI state title. • Part of an offensive line which guided the of‑ fense to 34.0 points per game as a sophomore. • Started as a freshman and the Marion Local of‑ fensive line paved the way for the Flyers to average 44.1 points per game during a 15‑0 season. HONORS • Tabbed as a 2017 All‑USA Ohio first‑team selec‑ tion by USA Today. • Named Division VI first‑team all‑state by the Ohio Prep Sports Writers Association as a senior. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Participated in the Notre Dame lineman camp in June 2017. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on March 25, 2017, after an unofficial visit over offers from Michigan State, Northwestern, Kentucky, Boston College and Iowa State. • Recruited primarily by former offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. • Took game visits for Georgia on Sept. 9, 2017, and USC on Oct. 21, 2017, and also attended the Echoes Awards banquet on Dec. 8, 2017. NOTABLE • Finished high school career with a 58‑3 record, including 27 straight victories to end his career. • Part of four state title appearances, winning three of those four while at Marion Local (par‑ ticipated in three of those four games; missed one due to injury). • One of a few freshmen to start in history at Marion Local, which has won 10 state titles since 1999. • Lives on a dairy farm. 2018 PROJECTION • Expect Dirksen to redshirt his freshman season at Notre Dame. THEY SAID IT Head coach Brian Kelly: "I don't know how else to put it, but John Dirksen is a country kid with a farmyard frame." Offensive line coach Jeff Quinn: "Work ethic. Simple and pure. His family has an incredible work ethic — that's what you see on film. … He knows how important the education piece is and doesn't need all the limelight. "He's quiet, but that doesn't mean he plays quiet. His pads will speak for who he is and that's a big part of why we took him." BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "The 6‑5, 303‑pound tackle has really good country strength, but he doesn't use it to his advantage nearly enough. When he gets fired up in a game he can really move people around, but the issue is at this point he doesn't play with enough consistency from a power standpoint. "He played too high at times, and he didn't finish consistently enough. Once his technique improves there is no doubt Dirksen's power will show up, but he will need to add some weight room strength. "Once he gets to college he'll realize not only how much work he needs, but more importantly how much better he can be. That will happen with improved competition, and once the light goes off his game should take off." John Dirksen Won't Be Outworked During his career at Maria Stein (Ohio) Marion Local, Dirksen helped his team win 27 consecutive games and a pair of Division VI state championships. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM