Scott Daly began long snapping out of necessity.

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Scott Powers/ESPNChicago.comScott Daly gave the art of long-snapping plenty of effort and energy over the years -- and it has paid off for the Notre Dame recruit.

Daly was the only one capable of snapping the ball out of his fifth-grade peers, so he automatically was given the role.

What Daly didn’t know then was his unique skill would become his ticket to a college football scholarship and lead him to sign with Notre Dame, which he will sign with on Wednesday morning.

“I didn’t really think much of it,” Daly said on Tuesday. “I was a baseball player. I thought I would play baseball in college.”

Baseball was Daly’s targeted sport until his sophomore year at Downers Grove South. He had shown a knack for long snapping, and he was encouraged to attend a camp run by long-snapping guru Chris Rubio.

Rubio also noticed Daly’s skill and pulled him aside to tell him so. From there on, Daly devoted himself to the craft.

“He said I had a lot of potential,” Daly said of Rubio. “It really lit a fire under me. I started working my tail off.”

Daly quickly learned what it took become an elite long snapper. He had to spend six days a week snapping 40-50 balls. He needed to lift weights to build muscle. He had to do yoga to be flexible. There was also speed training involved.

Daly continued to flourish at the position, and he understood what had to happen next. It wasn’t easy, but he decided to quit playing baseball and give closure to his childhood dream.

“It was a little tough,” Daly said. “I was very committed in my life to baseball. I thought I would be playing baseball. Once I found the hidden talent of long snapping, I put all my focus into it.”

Being a snapper is a lot being a kicker. It’s not an easy role. Perfection is what it’s expected every time out. Daly understands that, too.

“The only time you hear about a long snapper is when they mess up,” Daly said. “You only go out there a few times. You have to be on every time or you hurt your team.

“There is some pressure out there, but Chris Rubio always talks about concentration, and concentration comes with working hard, snapping and preparing yourself to be in place to be successful. I take that seriously.”

Rubio works with some of the nation’s best long snappers, and he included Daly in that category. Daly is currently ranked the No. 3 long snapper by ESPN.

“He has a great combination of skills,” Rubio said. “He has great size, got incredible smoothness and speed and a great work ethic. He’s a good all-around kid, too.”

Daly arrived on Notre Dame’s radar when he attended a special teams’ camp in South Bend, Ind. He and the Irish’s coaches kept him touch from then on. When he offered a scholarship prior to the spring game in April, he committed on the spot.

“It’s unbelievable,” Daly said. “I still can’t believe it. I never thought I would get a full-ride scholarship to the best school in the country, let alone to play for one of the best football teams in the country.”

In his senior season, Daly helped Downers Grove South to a 10-2 record as a tight end and long snapper.

“It’s something he’s worked at,” Downers Grove South coach John Belskis said. “He found a niche. There are certain skills that come natural to people and snapping came natural to him.”