WATCH: Notre Dame linebacker Jaylen Sneed shares a heartfelt reunion with his high school football coach

Jaylen Sneed and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish took on the Penn State Nittany Lions in the CFP semifinal on Thursday. The game was a thrilling encounter decided by a late field goal by Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter. The Fighting Irish eventually won 27-24 and will take on the winner between Texas and Ohio State on Saturday.

Notre Dame's talented linebacker Sneed shared a wholesome moment with his high school football coach, BJ Payne, on social media after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl last Friday.

Here's the video:

The video of the duo sharing an emotional hug was posted by NFHS on X. Sneed spent four years at the Hilton Head High School and was coached by Payne. The linebacker was a multi-sport athlete during his time at Hilton Head and represented his school in basketball as well as athletics.

Sneed ended his high school career as the third-best linebacker from his class, as per On3, and had more than 30 offers from some of the best CFB programs in the country. He eventually chose the Fighting Irish over programs like Oregon, Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Alabama.

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Jaylen Sneed had a breakout season with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are one win away from winning the NCAA title, and Jaylen Sneed has been a huge reason for their success this season. The linebacker is an integral part of Notre Dame's defense, racking up 44 total tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Sneed pledged his allegiance to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on July 12, 2021. He chose the program over schools like Texas A&M, Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma. After a quiet first season, the 6-2 linebacker recorded 14 total tackles one sack and two passes defended.

The defenseman started the campaign with five total tackles against the Texas A&M Aggies in a 23-13 win. His best game, though, came against Navy on Oct. 26 where he recorded nine tackles in a dominant 51-14 win.

Jaylen Sneed's latest performance against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the CFP semifinal is a testament to his growth as a player. The 6-foot-3 athlete recorded six total tackles in a 27-24 victory.