Notre Dame started its 2027 recruiting class with a specialist commitment from long snapper Sean Kraft.
The Fighting Irish have done the same in 2028.
Brentwood Academy (Tenn.) kicker Owen Davies has committed to Notre Dame, giving the Irish a pledge from one of the nation's premier specialists.
Kohl’s Kicking, one of the premier kicking programs in the country, ranks Davies as a five-star prospect and the No. 2 kicker in the country.
The Tennessee native has been on Notre Dame’s radar for several months. The Irish stopped by Brentwood Academy during the spring evaluation period before extending an offer following Davies’ impressive performance at Notre Dame’s specialist camp earlier this month.
In the end, one visit to South Bend was all it took.
“From the moment I got on campus, it was just different from any other place I'd ever been,” Davies told ISD. “The way just Coach (Marty) Biagi treated me and treated my family - everyone I met was amazing, it really felt like a family. It was just like no place I'd ever been before.”
Biagi is known for his ability to recruit at a high level, and it starts with how he treats recruits and their families. Davies immediately found a strong comfort level with Biagi, which only helped confirm his decision.
“He was very professional in the sense of how he ran his practice, but also from the way he treated me and my family,” explained Davies. “He’s very personable and all around just great to be around. It didn't feel like I was being interrogated, or it was a rough interview. It was like I was talking to one of my friends and we just immediately clicked.”
The connection extended beyond recruiting. During the specialist camp, Davies got a firsthand look at how Biagi operates on the field.
“It went great,” stated Davies. “It wasn’t like I felt I was going to be yelled at or I was going to be in a situation where I didn’t feel comfortable.”
Biagi’s background as a former specialist only strengthened Davies confidence in the fit at Notre Dame
“He knows how it feels,” Davies explained. “He knows how we go about our practice and how our schedule works. It instills more confidence and makes me more comfortable with him as my coach.”
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman spent time with Davies during the visit and it caught the 6-foot, 190-pounder by surprise.
“He’s probably like one of two head coaches I actually got to sit down and talk with,” Davies said. “It was awesome because he actually got to know me and my family. I got to sit down and have a real talk with the head coach. Everything about him is great. He seems to be running a great program and I’m excited to be playing for him.”
When it comes to leg strength, Davies possesses the kind of range that turns heads. At the Kohl’s winter showcase, Davies had the top kickoff with a top ball of 69 yards and a hangtime of 4.1 seconds.
Now, for the first time, he'll finally have the opportunity to showcase it in an actual game.
“68 yards,” Davies said when asked about the longest field goal he has made. “That was in practice. I have not played a snap of high school football. I’ve been ineligible or injured, so this year will be my first.”
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