Asheville Christian Academy (N.C.) long snapper Sean Kraft made his first trip to Notre Dame last week and it didn’t take long for the 2027 prospect to realize he didn’t need to see anywhere else.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder committed to Notre Dame shortly after his visit, giving special teams coordinator Marty Biagi a big win on the recruiting trail.
“It was an unbelievable experience, just everything that's happened,” Kraft told ISD. “Notre Dame blew me away. I had never been to Notre Dame before, a few days ago. It just felt right. It just felt like home. It was unbelievable.”
Biagi, Jesse Schmidt and Michael Vinson all made sure the nation’s No. 1 long snapper knew he was coveted, but also made sure the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder knew how extensive Notre Dame’s network went in the special teams world.
“The coaches immediately, without me asking, were like , I want you to call Scott Daly. He's the NFL snapper for the Bears. We’ll set you up with him and he’ll give you a call.”
Kraft was initially a little intimidated by Biagi and his presence. That soon faded, and the two will have a lengthy relationship moving forward.
“He's a really good dude,” explained Kraft. “At first, I thought he was kind of intimidating. I didn't get to meet him until right before their football school started, which is like practice and I met him for like five minutes. He's everywhere, with defense and it's not like he's not just talking to special teams.
“But then I got to know him and it’s like I see why he's the special teams coordinator. He's done a lot for me without me even, like, I haven't really even asked for anything, it’s a true blessing.”
Head coach Marcus Freeman also made a lasting impression on Kraft and his family.
“He cares a lot about specialists,” Kraft stated. “Coach Freeman personally asked for us to meet him in his office for over an hour. He told me, I'll give you the same thing I'm giving you the rising senior five-star quarterback. I'm giving you the same pitch because you're at that level.
“When we were at the hotel, he texted Coach Biagi saying why I think you should tell Sean Kraft to call me. It's like a whole essay about why it's important that I call him and all this stuff.”
In the end, Kraft didn’t find a single negative in his Notre Dame experience, which led him to his decision.
“There's nothing wrong with Notre Dame. When I was doing, you know, all my pros and cons of everything, it was like, what doesn't Notre Dame have, and what is Notre Dame not the best at? That’s what sold me is the education is second to none. Connections are second to none. The football program is second to none. The facilities they are putting in and the coaches and location is really good.
“I saw opportunities. I want to study business and the business program is No. 1 in the nation. They’re top notch.”
One of the visit’s highlights was Kraft’s meeting with Mike O’Malley, Executive Director and Interim Faculty Director of the Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate at Notre Dame.
O’Malley was able to show Kraft the opportunities at Notre Dame, but also the connections the university can provide.
“He knows a lot,” stated Kraft. “He really does care for his students more than a real estate professor usually would. He works really well with the football players and runs his department really well. He spoke about why marking is the best and why I should do this and how he’d develop me as a student and person.
“He knows everyone. I was honestly amazed because we were talking about someone from Auburn and he was like, yeah, I’m best friends with him. That’s the Notre Dame network.”
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