2021 DE Will Schweitzer Fired Up To Get To Notre Dame

Will Schweitzer‍ wrapped up his Los Gatos High School experience with Leg Day on Tuesday.

While his teammates are preparing for a possible high school season this spring, the 2021 California defensive end takes off as an early enrollee to Notre Dame on Thursday.

“I'm pumped,” Schweitzer told Irish Sports Daily. “I'm juiced. I haven't gone to school in a while. I haven't been playing football, so I'm just excited to strap the helmet back on and go hit some people.”

It’s not the kind of senior year he imagined and he’ll have his team in mind as he begins his college career.

“Nothing but love and pride for Los Gatos, especially the football team,” he said. “I expressed this before, it just hurts so bad having to leave the squad with still a chance that they'll be playing this year.

“I was so proud to be a Los Gatos football player. It's something that I really saw as a part of me and it'll always be a part of myself. It's a little bit bittersweet, but I'm excited to start the next chapter in my life.”

His teammates are excited as well.

“They're super juiced that they could still be playing,” said Schweitzer. “They’re really excited for me. It stinks that I can't be playing with them, but I know they're going to do great things if they do play.”

Schweitzer is ready to take advantage of the benefits of enrolling early.

“For me, putting on the right size, getting ready early, learning the schemes so I can get on the field as fast as possible,” said the 6-foot-4 Schweitzer, who is now up to 227 pounds.

“As well as getting the semester in early for school, that really helps me and I think those are the advantages of going early.”

He knows what the Irish coaching staff is expecting from him.

“They expect everything they've always expected of me,” he said. “They expect me to go out there, play my hardest, do what I do, chase the ball down and make plays. And I'm going to go there and do that for them.”

He’s looking forward to meeting his classmates, especially since they were never able to bond through official visits in South Bend.

“We're as close as we can be for virtually interacting with each other,” he said. “I think we're going to come in and it's going to be a great feeling when we all finally see each other in person.”

His family will be sad to see him go so far, but more excited about what the future holds.

“It's bittersweet,” said Schweitzer. “They know that it's the best opportunity for me and they're super excited, but obviously being so far away, they're going to struggle with that and so am I. But, we'll both get through it.

“They're going to come visit me as much as they can. And I just can't wait for game days in South Bend.”