48 Days From Kickoff: Mitch Jeter Accomplishes Career First Ahead of Notre Dame Football Season.

With just 48 days remaining until the start of Notre Dame’s much-anticipated football season, all eyes are on the roster, the depth chart battles, and the players looking to make an impact in South Bend. Among those quietly carving out a meaningful role is kicker Mitch Jeter, who recently did something for the first time in his career that is turning heads inside the program and adding a new dimension to the Fighting Irish’s special teams unit. While much of the preseason buzz surrounds quarterbacks, defensive line rotations, and wide receiver depth, Jeter’s moment is an important footnote that could play a big role once the games begin.

Coming into his Notre Dame journey as a transfer from South Carolina, Mitch Jeter wasn’t viewed as a flashy addition. Kickers rarely generate headlines, even when they have strong résumés. But inside the building, coaches and teammates recognized quickly what kind of consistency and calm presence he could bring to the Irish’s special teams. Jeter wasn’t brought in simply to compete—he was expected to contribute, especially given Notre Dame’s recent history of needing reliable legs in big moments.

Throughout his time at South Carolina, Jeter was accurate and dependable, but one thing had eluded him during his collegiate career: the opportunity to drill a field goal of 50 yards or longer in an actual game. It’s not that he didn’t have the leg strength—practice film and warmups showed he could handle it—but for one reason or another, the opportunity never came during live game action. That all changed recently, and the ripple effect through the program is notable.

Jeter successfully converted a 54-yard field goal during a high-intensity scrimmage setting in front of the full coaching staff and a boisterous group of teammates. While it wasn’t a game under the lights in front of 80,000 fans, the atmosphere was deliberately designed to simulate game pressure. The staff made it known that this was a crucial evaluation period, and Jeter responded with precision, delivering his first-ever made kick from beyond 50 yards in a competitive setting. It may have been unofficial, but its significance was not lost on anyone.

For Jeter, the moment served as both a personal milestone and a message to the coaching staff. Special teams coordinator Marty Biagi, known for valuing composure as much as distance, now has added confidence in dialing up longer field goals if the offense stalls around midfield. The ability to send out a kicker with proven 50-plus-yard range changes a lot for a team. Field position strategy shifts. Opposing coordinators think twice before letting the Irish drive past the 40-yard line. Close games in the fourth quarter have a different feel when there’s a kicker who has shown the ability to change the scoreboard from virtually anywhere on the opponent’s side of the field.

Jeter’s breakthrough also reflects the evolution of Notre Dame’s special teams identity. Under head coach Marcus Freeman, the Irish have placed more emphasis on every phase of the game. Whether it’s blocking punts, flipping field position with strategic punting, or pinning opponents deep, Notre Dame has leaned heavily on special teams to provide an edge. Jeter’s emergence as a long-range weapon only deepens that advantage.

Of course, one impressive kick in July isn’t a guarantee of perfection in the fall. But it does suggest that the Irish have more options and more confidence when it comes to situational football. In the past, there may have been hesitancy to attempt field goals from long range, opting instead for a fourth-down conversion or a punt. That calculus changes when there’s evidence a kicker can make it from 54 yards under pressure. It changes how Notre Dame plays end-of-half or end-of-game situations, and that’s not trivial. In a sport where one or two possessions often determine the outcome, being able to rely on a long kick is a competitive edge.

Jeter’s achievement also adds depth to the story of Notre Dame’s overall transfer strategy. The Irish have been more selective than some programs when it comes to dipping into the transfer portal, preferring cultural fits and players who address clear needs. Jeter is the type of addition that may not earn viral social media reactions, but he could very well be the reason Notre Dame escapes with a road win in a hostile stadium when the offense sputters in the red zone. These are the margins that Marcus Freeman and his staff are trying to sharpen, and Jeter’s development is an example of that plan working.

Beyond the strategic implications, the moment mattered to Jeter on a personal level. For a kicker, confidence is often half the battle. The mental side of the game is relentless—one missed kick can spiral into doubt. But hitting a personal milestone like this ahead of the season has a multiplying effect. It builds swagger. It makes teammates believe. It turns a player from a role filler into a difference maker. That’s the energy Jeter has brought into Notre Dame’s preseason, and it’s being noticed not just by coaches but by players on both sides of the ball.

Quarterback Riley Leonard, another transfer expected to play a big role this year, was seen celebrating the kick with genuine excitement, reinforcing the camaraderie and belief inside this roster. Leonard knows what it’s like to play in tight games, and having a kicker who can deliver from long distance is something he welcomes. As Leonard continues to find chemistry with his new receivers and works to master the playbook, knowing the offense doesn’t need to reach the 30-yard line every drive to come away with points is a huge psychological lift.

There’s also the added bonus of recruiting and perception. Recruits and their families look at every aspect of a program, and strong special teams can be a subtle signal of attention to detail. When prospects visit South Bend and see a kicker drilling 54-yarders with consistency, it suggests the program is functioning at a high level across the board. And in today’s hypercompetitive recruiting landscape, even small advantages matter. Special teams may not win over a 5-star wide receiver, but it reinforces the professionalism of the program.

Jeter’s moment might fade from the headlines in a few days, overshadowed by quarterback competitions or defensive standouts, but its impact could echo into the fall. If Notre Dame finds itself trailing by two with under a minute left and stuck at the opponent’s 38-yard line, there will be no panic. The staff will send out Jeter with confidence, knowing he’s already done it in practice and scrimmage settings. That’s a luxury not every team has.

With 48 days to go before the season kicks off, Notre Dame is starting to sharpen its identity. Questions remain, as they do for every program in July, but boxes are being checked one by one. Mitch Jeter’s first-ever make from beyond 50 yards might seem like a footnote in the grand scope of Notre Dame football history, but it’s the kind of development that has the power to quietly win games. Every year, there are teams that rise or fall based on one missed opportunity or one unexpected hero. Jeter has the makings of the latter.

As the clock ticks closer to Week 1, Notre Dame fans can take comfort knowing their team has a kicker with a big leg, a calm demeanor, and now, the confidence that comes from breaking through a personal barrier. It’s not just about distance—it’s about trust, timing, and the ability to deliver when everything is on the line. Mitch Jeter has taken a big step in that direction. And in a season where every point could matter, that step might just be one of the most important of all.