Cole Kmet Talks Playing In Army All-American Bowl, Irish
On June 22 Arlington Heights (Ill.) St. Viator 2017 tight end and Notre Dame commit Cole Kmet received some surprising news. He was invited to play in the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
“It is such a great honor to be invited,” Kmet said. “I wasn’t expecting it at all and it came to me as a surprise.”
The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Kmet knows he will be participating in the game with other top players in the country and that is one reason the invite is special.
“I just felt very honored that I am put up with some of those type of kids throughout the country,” Kmet said. “All of them are such great football players.”
“I’m just planning to have fun and enjoy the experience while I’m there.”
The four-star has had a quiet summer this far in terms of recruiting. Outside of attending Irish Invasion, Kmet has been focusing on his upcoming senior season and not worrying about the recruiting process since his decision is already made.
“[My recruiting process has] definitely settled down a lot which has been nice,” Kmet said. “I’ve been able to focus on the high school stuff and not worry about picking a college which is great. Knowing I’m going to Notre Dame is awesome.”
Kmet said he still receives interest from schools such as Penn State, Wisconsin, Missouri and Kansas, but he is telling basically telling those schools thanks but no thanks as he is firmly committed to the Irish. The trio of proximity to home, academics and Notre Dame’s use of tight ends and NFL success Kmet said are the factors that make Notre Dame the best option for him.
Kmet attended and participated in Irish Invasion with a lot less weight on his shoulders since he was a commit and not an uncommitted recruit.
“I had a blast,” Kmet said. “It was a lot of fun. Going this year as a commit was nice because I got to relax and I didn’t have to work for an offer or anything. I just go to enjoy myself so I thought I performed pretty well. I got to work with Avery Davis, our 2017 quarterback commit. That was awesome too, so I had a blast.”
Kmet said he is still in contact with the coaching staff about once week and he communicates mostly with Mike Denbrock and Scott Booker.
“They’re really looking out for the best for me,” Kmet said. “They’re 100 percent solid on me and I’m 100 percent solid on them. They’re great coaches I got to work with them at the Irish Invasion. They’re great teachers…I’m excited when I get up there to be with them.”
A date for his official to Notre Dame has not been set. It will be his only visit.
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