2021 Notre Dame Commit Will Schweitzer Enjoys Return to South Bend

2021 Notre Dame commit Will Schweitzer‍ made a trip to his future home over the weekend. 

The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder made a trip to Notre Dame in August and flipped his commit from Nebraska before he left. 

This time around, Schweitzer wanted to show his father around campus.

"My dad wanted to see it and he didn't get to come last time," Schweitzer told Irish Sports Daily. "We have a bunch of friends in Chicago. We always go back to Chicago and decided while we were there that we wanted to go back to South Bend. 

"He ended up loving the campus. My mom and I fell in more love with it too. It was a great trip and good to get a win. It was great to see Notre Dame again." 

The Los Gatos (Calif.) star and his mother showed his father the hot spots around campus and it couldn't have gone better. 

"When we first got on campus, it was at night and we ate at Legends," stated Schweitzer. "We walked across campus and saw Touchdown Jesus at night. All the kids were eating by campfires and having fun out there because of COVID.

"He was almost speechless. He hadn't seen a campus that looked like Notre Dame. Honestly, it was the same reaction I had. I'm just so grateful I get to go to school there and he was really proud of me, so that was awesome to see." 

Schweitzer wasn't able to get into the game because of the University's restrictions, but he did notice a different feeling as he was able to enjoy this visit a little more.

"I was soaking it in even more this time," said Schweitzer. "Last time, I was thinking about committing and ended up committing. Knowing it was my home and seeing myself there is different." 

Despite not seeing the coaching staff, Schweitzer has developed a good relationship with defensive line coach Mike Elston.

"He's getting hyped for me to come," Schweitzer explained. "We're talking about game stuff, but we haven't been able to see each other because of the rules. Notre Dame, like a lot of other schools, really does take pride in following those rules, so we're all a little bummed we haven't been able to meet each other even though I've been to campus twice. 

"We're getting our relationship going over the phone and FaceTime as much as we can."

2020 has proved to be anything but ordinary and that includes the recruiting world. Schweitzer has put a little blind faith into the staff as he has yet to be in the same room with them because of NCAA rules.  

"It's totally weird," laughed Schweitzer. "It's not what I was expecting when I was going into the recruiting process. I thought I would be committed and go on my official visit. It's so strange because I feel like I know the coaches, but I haven't seen them face-to-face. You never really know someone as well as you want to unless you're face-to-face. I know they can't wait and I can't wait to meet them."

Schweitzer has also kept close tabs on the Notre Dame defense over the first three games.

"I've been impressed with the Vyper position," Schweitzer stated. "Daelin (Hayes) and Isaiah (Foskey) have been doing a great job over there and getting to the quarterback. I've been really happy to see what the whole defensive line has been doing. I really do see myself fitting in, especially getting after the quarterback, which my favorite part of playing defense." 

If two visits weren't enough confirmation of his decision, Schweitzer has now experienced life in the famous Notre Dame commit group chat.

Schweitzer has been able to see how close the 2021 commits are and it's precisely what he wanted to see. 

"I had been in a couple group chats previously and not even commits, but just recruits from other schools," said Schweitzer. "Some work differently than others. I was really hoping this group would be tight. We're texting each other on Snapchat every day and we're a super tight group. I'm really happy we're like that and I couldn't be more hype. 

"I haven't met any of those guys because we haven't been able to see each on campus, so it's all a little weird. We're all becoming friends over the virtual world we're living in now. I can't wait to actually meet those guys in person."