Leo Scheidler’s life changed in the middle of the Lake Forest boys basketball team’s practice Tuesday.
Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees called him.
Rees, a Lake Forest graduate who played quarterback for the Irish, had been involved in recruiting the senior two-sport athlete and even attended one of the Scouts’ basketball games earlier this month.
But Scheidler said he got nervous when he realized Rees was the caller.
Within a few minutes on the phone, it became clear that Scheidler had the chance to continue a family tradition and join his brother Eddie in the Notre Dame football program. He accepted an offer to be a preferred walk-on.
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“It was surreal when I got the call,” he said. “I was at a loss for words. It’s been a dream of mine to attend Notre Dame since I was little. My dad would take me and my brother to games. It’s been my lifelong goal to get back there and play on the field.
“Notre Dame is basically a second home to me. Both parents went there, and we always watched Notre Dame on TV. I didn’t want to be the one to break that chain.”
Scheidler, who played multiple positions for Lake Forest, said he most likely will start his college career at wide receiver, which he played sparingly during his junior season.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder was moved to quarterback as a senior and was a smashing success, leading the Scouts (9-3) to the Class 6A state semifinals, where they lost to eventual state champion Cary-Grove. He completed 52 of 83 passes for 803 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 894 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Scheidler also was a defensive back, punter, kick returner and holder last season. He even had an unintentional two-point conversion when he took a bad snap on an extra-point attempt and scrambled into the end zone during Lake Forest’s 22-21 win against Prairie Ridge in a state quarterfinal.
“Leo had a great high school career,” Lake Forest football coach Chuck Spagnoli said. “He has an opportunity now to compete for his college dream. … He’s a high-character kid who loves competition. His development was an incredible part of our team and program. He’s worked so hard. We’re all so proud of him. Notre Dame is going to plug him into where they need help.”
Lake Forest senior offensive lineman Nick Flynn credited Scheidler for speeding up his development. Flynn, who quit soccer before his sophomore year to play football, played on the varsity for the first time last season and is mulling over his college options, which include a walk-on spot at Florida.
“Leo really balled out this season,” Flynn said. “He was a team leader, someone to look up to. I developed so much from the work I put in on and off the field, but I needed guidance. Leo was always there to be a model.”
Scheidler credits his performance at Notre Dame’s camp last summer for helping boost his profile. He impressed Notre Dame’s coaching staff with his route running and speed, and it didn’t hurt having his older brother on the team.
Scheidler, a sixth man for Lake Forest’s North Suburban Conference champion basketball team, said he had roster offers from the Butler, Dayton, Dennison and Valparaiso football programs.
“My brother has been a huge inspiration for me,” he said. “He had no idea if he would continue his football career after Lake Forest. He went there blindly, but he pushed through it and has been a great role model to me. He tells me all the workouts I need to do and has been right by my side throughout the whole process, telling me to work harder and chirping at me to push me.
“This process has been a little stressful, just with basketball and everything. But after Tuesday, it’s been like a 40-pound dumbbell off my shoulders.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.