There are times in life that you will always remember. For football players, it may be their first touchdown, their first time laying out a player, or even their first time playing collegiate football. But those who supported them during difficult times or encouraged them to grow up, even if their career ended on a HS field, are sometimes overlooked. Jaylen Sneed, a linebacker for Notre Dame, has one of those coaches on his side.

BJ Payne, the head coach of Hilton Head (S.C.), recognized something in a scrawny freshman and paved the way for Sneed to emerge as one of the top football players in the country after high school. “He’s always been a father figure for me growing up with a single mom,” said Jaylen. Even though his coaches’ support and hard work have contributed to his success, his mother’s role cannot be overlooked.

Who is Jaylen Sneed’s mom?

Jaylen Sneed’s mom, Chanta Ellison, grew up playing basketball and volleyball and throwing shotput and discus in high school in Texas. She coached Sneed in the shot, and her son was nationally ranked in the AAU circuit in elementary school. And she is the one who makes Jaylen realized that Notre Dame is the best place for him to play.

Prior to being named an All-American linebacker, Jaylen played basketball, baseball, and shot put. When Sneed was in the eighth or ninth grade, he was a good young basketball player. However, his physical prowess was outperforming his academic performance. Thus, Ellison tossed her son’s possessions into the front step. “You don’t live here with those grades. And he did not get to play for the first two weeks of basketball. He had to get his grades up to a B average,” Ellison remarked.

After that, Sneed returned to the basketball team, but he was never able to fully escape his mother’s academic probation. According to Ellison, Sneed had a 3.7 GPA when he graduated from Hilton Head. He knew what the Irish would need and what tools were available to help him succeed in college. However, this opportunity was always present because his mother enrolled Sneed in a Mandarin immersion program. Moreover, she worked in early childhood education early in her career.

Accepting the challenge was part of saying “yes” when Jaylen decided to commit to Notre Dame after showing his parents and mentor the campus. Jaylen realized that he would most likely require support while taking on a new endeavor. “We talked as a family, listen, if you go to these other schools, they have four assistants to help you with your work. At Notre Dame, if you’re smart enough they give a tutor and you figure it out. Jaylen just needed to know his full potential,” said his mother.

Thus, you can see how Ellison instilled principles and knowledge in Jaylen from an early age. And it has finally been settled. Nevertheless, it is impossible to overlook Jaylen Sneed’s father’s instruction in all of these.

Who is Jaylen Sneed’s dad?

Jerrold Sneed, the father of Jaylen Sneed, is an avid Dawgs supporter. But his son didn’t pick them. The programs on Jaylen Sneed’s priority list were Tennessee, Oregon, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame. Finally, he joined Notre Dame in 2022.

Jaylen experienced homesickness in his early years at Notre Dame. His father was the one who encouraged him to play to the best of his abilities at that time. “All great players are confident in their ability. If you’re not confident in what doing, don’t do it,” Jerrold stated. After this, there is now no question that Jaylen is optimistic about the future.

Although his father’s information is not publicly available, it is clear from his work ethics that he was raised with all the necessary resources. But where they nurtured their little star is still a mystery.

Where did Jaylen grow up?

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is where Jaylen Sneed was raised. He excelled in a variety of sports while attending Hilton Head High School, including basketball, football, and track & field. There, he played QB on occasion, but mostly as a linebacker. Among his stellar stats from his senior year were 101 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and two interceptions. Due to his accomplishments, he was named the 2021 South Carolina Mr. Football. And he was recognized as a 4-star recruit by major recruiting services.

Following high school, Sneed committed to play for Notre Dame. In 2022, he played in four games and recorded seven tackles, but his role was limited. In his sophomore year, Sneed’s participation grew considerably; he played in all 13 games, mostly as a reserve linebacker and on special teams. And in 2024, he became the standout linebacker of Notre Dame.

Right now, let’s see how he does in the National Championship game vs OSU.