Skip to main content

Jaylen Sneed Shares Touching Moment With His High School Football Coach

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•01/08/25•

lawandfern

Jaylen Sneed - High School Football
Notre Dame linebacker Jaylen Sneed runs off the field before the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend. (© MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Jaylen Sneed showed why a high school football coach has a lasting impact on college football players. The Notre Dame linebacker shared an emotional hug with BJ Payne after the Fighting Irish defeated the favored Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl.

Payne is proud of his former player, as shown by wearing a jersey with ‘Nuke,’ Sneed’s nickname, written on the back. Meanwhile, the defensive player couldn’t contain his emotions as his way of showing appreciation to his former head coach.

Sneed played high school football for the Hilton Head Seahawks in South Carolina. Payne took over the team from Tim Singleton in 2012 and coached Sneed from 2019 to 2022. In addition to football, the linebacker also competed in basketball and athletics.

Heading into college, Jaylen Sneed was South Carolina’s top prospect and third-best linebacker in the On3 Industry Rating. He chose Notre Dame over 35 other schools, including Alabama, Texas, Michigan, Oregon, Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Scouts compared his game style to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who also went to Notre Dame.

Meanwhile, On3’s scouting report on Sneed reads:

“Owusu-Koramoah played receiver, quarterback, corner, safety, and linebacker for Hampton (Va.) Bethel. Sneed lined up at quarterback, linebacker, safety, and defensive end for Hilton Head Island (S.C.) Hilton Head. Both are twitchy athletes who play with a hair-on-fire effort level, running down plays from sideline to sideline.”

Sneed is having a breakout season in his junior year with Notre Dame, tallying 44 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He had a combined 21 tackles and a sack in his first two years at South Bend.

Sneed helped Notre Dame limit the Bulldogs offense to ten points in the Sugar Bowl. Before that game, Georgia averaged 33.1 points per game. However, after a touching moment with his high school football coach, he and the Fighting Irish are not done. Notre Dame will face Penn State in the Orange Bowl for the right to play in the National Championship Game.