Coach | New Notre Dame Commit Will Schweitzer "Checks The Boxes"
After announcing his commitment to the Irish on Sunday evening, Will Schweitzer told Irish Sports Daily that Notre Dame checked all of the boxes for him.
The 2021 California defensive end’s head coach at Los Gatos High School used the same phrase to describe Schweitzer as a prospect.
“He checks the boxes,” Mark Krail says of Schweitzer. “I told a lot of people. He’s a great student in the classroom. He’s a leader on the field. He’s a leader in the weight room. He’s a real pleasant, upbeat kind of kid.
“When I say checks the boxes, I’m talking about personality, commitment, attitude and academics. He’s the kid in the classroom who is raising his hand and participating in discussions. Teachers love him. He’s just a super well-rounded kid. He’s someone you hope for great things ahead of him.”
Krail says Schweitzer is “an easy one to talk about” because of who he is on the field and off.
“If you look at his film, you’ll see he plays super-fast on the field,” the coach says of the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder. “That’s what jumps out. He’s a kid who loves football and loves playing fast and never wants to come off the field. When we get to play some football here in January, he’ll be a guy who shines for us.”
Krail points to the speed Schweitzer plays at as his greatest on-field attribute.
“We’re a 4-2-5 look and we played him in the middle at linebacker because we knew he could run from sideline to sideline,” the coach explains. “We know he’s going to project as an outside hybrid type guy in college. But we figured he’s too valuable making plays, if we put him on one side, the high school teams are smart enough to run the other way. He plays with such speed and enthusiasm.”
As the season progressed and Los Gatos got into postseason play, they got a preview of what could be to come at the next level.
“We put him up on the line of scrimmage and let him rush the passer from time to time and he created havoc there as well,” says Krail. “He plays super-fast, he’s coachable.
“The kid just wants to get better and is always asking for ways to improve whether it be technique or a route, he plays tight end for us as well. He’s a really good blocker. He just does a lot of good things. His attitude is awesome. He’s always a guy who is cheering on the other guys. He understands the role he’s in as a senior leader and embraced that and done a good job with it.”
Krail is “super excited” about Schweitzer’s decision to commit to the Irish.
“He’s a great player, but an even better man. He comes from a great family. His mom and dad are super people. He’s got a couple brothers who are great kids as well. The Irish are getting a good one. I’m excited for the way it all worked out.”