****NOTE: An earlier version of this story misidentified the author.  The Viator Voice regrets the error.****

Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Baylor, Northwestern—these are some of the best football schools in the country, and Saint Viator junior Cole Kmet had to chose which one he wanted to be a part of.
Football was not the only criteria in Kmet’s decision.

“I wanted a place close to home with good academics that also had great football,” said Kmet.

The 4-star recruit first got himself noticed by sending his highlights to various schools.

“I got some mail to start out with, and everything kind of progressed from there,” said Kemet. “Coaches would send me camp information and if I was really interested in the school I would go to their camp during the summer.” Louisville was the first school to reach out to Kmet. After a visit in the spring, the Cardinals offered Kmet a scholarship. After this the offers and mail kept pouring in. After considering all of his offers, Kmet narrowed it down to two schools: Notre Dame and Ohio State. Both the Fighting Irish and the Buckeyes had everything Kmet wanted in a school, but in the end Notre Dame edged Ohio State.

“I decided to go with Notre Dame because of the great academics and it also being a Catholic school helped that decision a lot.” These few distinguishing factors ended up being the difference between the schools and Kmet’s decision.