2023 DB Amare Snowden Felt the Love at Notre Dame

2023 Roseville (Mich.) defensive back Amare Snowden‍ camped at Notre Dame in June and added an offer from the Fighting Irish a few days later. 

On Saturday, the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder returned to South Bend to take in Notre Dame’s 34-6 victory over Navy. 

"It's always good to get to Notre Dame,” Snowden told ISD. “I was able to talk to Coach (Marcus) Freeman, Coach (Mike) Mickens and Coach Chad (Bowden) was on me." 

It was a different trip for Snowden as he had the offer, so he was able to experience Notre Dame in a different light, which included fans telling him to choose the Irish. 

"It felt really good,” stated Snowden. “A lot of the coaches knew me and it felt like home. I had a couple of fans come up to me. I was standing right next to Sonny Styles and they were like, 'We need you guys. Snowden, you at corner and Styles at safety is a deadly duo.' 

"I was surprised because I didn't expect them to know me. It felt like coming home a little bit." 

Freeman's message was simple as he explained how much Snowden was wanted in the blue and gold, but Mickens and O'Leary also made it known how much they liked the Michigan native. 

"I talked to Coach O'Leary at The Walk,” explained Snowden. “He was asking how I was doing and if I was playing safety or corner this year. I told him I was playing both and he had to hurry in for team prayer on the field.

"Coach Mickens wants me at corner. He said he would battle it out with Coach O'Leary to have me at corner. It was cool to talk with both of them." 

As for his personal preference, Snowden likes cornerback a little more, but has no issues playing safety. 

"I prefer corner, but I want to help the team out,” said Snowden. :”I want to win a National Championship." 

Snowden was also impressed with what the Notre Dame defense did on Saturday. As a defensive back, Snowden wasn't able to see a ton of different schemes from Notre Dame, but he loved seeing the grit from Freeman's defense.

"They play with so much fire and the entire defense has a motor,” Snowden said. “Some of the plays where they stuffed Navy, they were driving the quarterback or running back 5-10 yards back with the refs blowing the whistle. That's a team I want to be part of. 

"I couldn't really see how the defensive backs were going against Navy because they were out of the game. Some of the passes they did have, the defensive backs had the right reads. They played good considering Navy was pounding the ball and it wasn't working." 

As for his recruitment, Snowden has been all over the Midwest this fall and will head to Louisville next.

"I went to Cincinnati, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State,” Snowden stated. “I also went to a couple of MAC schools. I never want to feel I'm too good for them, so I'm always down to visit the MAC programs. 

"I'll probably get back to South Bend after the season and I'm going to Louisville to catch an ACC game. My options are always open and I want to get to all the games I can to live in the moment." 

Snowden is also ranked as the No. 6 outfielder in the state of Michigan, so baseball is on the plate too. 

"I'm a two-sport athlete,” Snowden said. “I'm going to try my hardest to play both in college." 

Snowden will finish his fall visits and then potentially narrow his recruitment down, but he's not in a hurry as he wants to experience as many schools as possible to figure out what he truly wants in a future program. 

"I'm just soaking it all in. I haven't really thought about time or top group yet. I'm grateful for the opportunities and offers. I'm just waiting until the right time." 

Offers: Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Liberty, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pitt, Syracuse, West Virginia and Western Michigan

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