Notre Dame LS Michael Vinson Put on Scholarship

There’s good news around Notre Dame as walk-on long snapper Michael Vinson has been earned a scholarship. 

Vinson, who took over the long snapping role in 2020, started all 12 games for the Irish in 2021 and impressed both his teammates and coaching staff with his work ethic during his time in South Bend. 

“Michael is a great example of WOPU Nation (Walk-On Players Union), the proud tradition of walk-on players here at Notre Dame," stated former special teams coordinator Brian Polian during fall camp.

"He was a walk-on player from outside Chicago, we scholarshiped Alex Peitsch, but we made it clear to both parties this is going to be a competition."

The long snapper isn’t the most glorified position in world, but Notre Dame hasn’t had a bad snap in years and that's due to players like Vinson, John Shannon and Scott Daly. 

"Michael has an incredible skill to throw a ball between your legs 15 yards in 0.7 seconds and do it accurately," Polian said. "That's a pretty elite skill. He's improved himself so much athletically. He can get out there and cover a kick and fall on the pile every once in a while at the end of a punt."

Vinson was as hungry as ever in fall camp despite earning the starting role and Notre Dame fans shouldn't expect that to change now that he's on scholarship. 

"I had to keep working hard to keep earning it every day," Vinson said in August. "Nothing is given here. This is Notre Dame, one of the top programs in the country. Everything is earned."