Notre Dame football flips kicker Erik Schmidt from Wisconsin
Notre Dame has its kicker of the future. The Fighting Irish made a move to flip Milwaukee (Wis.) Marquette University’s Erik Schmidt away from Wisconsin, and the coveted specialist announced his decision on Monday, just a couple days ahead of National Signing Day.
Schmidt is one of the nation’s very best high school kicker prospects and had a decorated high school career. According to each of the four major recruiting rankings websites, he ranks as a top-five kicker in America. On3 has him as the No. 5 player at his position nationally, while 247 Sports and ESPN list him as the No. 3 kicker. Rivals simply lists him as a three-star recruit without a positional ranking.
According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting services, Schmidt checks in as the No. 2 kicker in America and the No. 20 prospect from the state of Wisconsin.
Schmidt, who will play in the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando, Fla. next month, had a strong senior season. He connected on 10 of 13 field goal attempts with his only misses being on 60, 52 and 49-yard kicks. His average field goal attempt was from 46 yards out and had touchbacks on 93 percent of kickoffs. Schmidt set a school record with a 55-yard field goal in November.
While handling the punting duties, he had a net average of 46 yards per punt and put 13 of 25 attempts inside the 20 as a senior. He could very well punt at Notre Dame, too.
Schmidt was awarded the Kevin Stemke Award, which goes to the most outstanding senior kicker or punter in The Badger State via Wisconsin Sports Network.
He finished fourth in voting for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel player of the year, which seems unheard of for a kicker.
Schmidt was named to the 2023 MaxPreps High School Football Junior All-America first-team in helping lead Marquette to a Wisconsin Division I state championship that season.
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How it came together for Schmidt and Notre Dame
The 6-2, 185-pounder, who will sign with Notre Dame Wednesday as a full scholarship player, is no stranger to South Bend. He’s been to campus at least seven times.
His recruiting process with the Irish started back when Brian Mason was still the Irish’s special teams coordinator. Schmidt visited Notre Dame in the spring of 2022 and returned that November for a game day experience.
He camped for Notre Dame in the summer of 2023 and returned for a game several months later. He was back in South Bend in April 2024 and again for another camp in June.
It’s Blue & Gold’s understanding that Notre Dame didn’t have a full scholarship offer on the table at the time, while Boston College and in-state Wisconsin did. He committed to the Badgers June 26.
But that didn’t stop Notre Dame from making a push. A source tells Blue & Gold that Schmidt was back on campus this weekend. While the coaching staff was in Los Angeles for the USC game, it’s Blue & Gold’s understanding that some members of the personnel department stayed back to host Schmidt.
With Mitch Jeter’s eligibility running out after this season, the Irish will need a starting kicker for the 2025 season. Schmidt all be an option for Notre Dame, but it remains to be seen who will be the starter.
