A return visit to Notre Dame gave Theo Schott a clearer picture of how the program develops players on and off the field.
The 2028 Indiana tight end made the trip back to South Bend this weekend, where he went through meetings, practice and time with the coaching staff as he continues to evaluate the Irish.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder left with a stronger understanding of what separates Notre Dame beyond the football field.
“They really harped on the connections and academics,” Schott said. “That’s something you don’t see at a lot of other places.”
That message started early in the day with a presentation from Marcus Freeman, who focused heavily on life after football.
“Coach Freeman kind of talked about the culture and how Notre Dame sets you up post football,” Schott said. “We didn’t really talk about football until later in the day.”
That approach resonated with Schott, who comes from an academically focused background.
“I take academics pretty seriously,” Schott said. “Being from an academic-driven school, that’s something unique they have.”
The Zionsville High School standout also spent time with offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Mike Denbrock and assistant tight ends coach Harris Bivin, where the focus shifted to development and fit within the offense.
“They went through how my skillset is similar to past players and how they would use me,” Schott said.
Notre Dame’s track record at tight end continues to stand out as a major factor.
“Guys like Michael Mayer and Eli Raridon, they use them in the pass game but they’re elite blockers too,” Schott said.
That versatility aligns with how Schott views his own game.
“I can see myself being used that way,” Schott said.
While this visit focused more on structure and development, Schott is already looking ahead to getting a more complete experience next time.
He plans to return for the Irish Invasion this summer, where he hopes to spend more time around players and see another side of the program.
“I’ll probably come up for camp,” Schott said. “That way I can hang out with the players and see how they like it.”
If that doesn’t happen, a game day visit remains a strong possibility.
Schott continues to stay active on the visit trail with trips to Indiana and Texas Tech coming up after earlier stops at Georgia and Florida.
He isn’t rushing into any decisions and plans to take his time as his recruitment continues to develop.
But this visit gave him a clearer picture of what Notre Dame offers beyond football.
“I didn’t really know that side just from coming to a game. Seeing that side of things was cool to see.”
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