BREAKING: Notre Dame Lands 5-Star ATH Joey O'Brien

Liam Gaudet
Jun 20
2 min read

Marcus Freeman and the recruiting staff make an emphatic splash, winning the recruiting battle for elite safety Joey O'Brien, one of the top remaining targets on the board for the Irish in the class of 2026. Notre Dame recruiting continues its surge into the summer.

Art by The Irish Tribune

Notre Dame secured the final official visit for the elite Pennsylvania product, who took the trip up to South Bend last weekend alongside a host of other targets and commits. The visit served as the final push for several priority prospects, including newly minted 4-Star OT commit Grayson McKeogh, 5-Star CB Khary Adams, and, of course, Joey O'Brien. Needless to say, Notre Dame rolled out the red carpet and knocked the OV weekend out of the park.

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The Irish went head-to-head with the likes of in-state school Penn State and recruiting powerhouse Oregon to secure O'Brien's services. In a battle that seemed to be trending in a multitude of directions down the stretch, Notre Dame was able to emerge victorious. O'Brien joins Rodney Dunham as the second 5-Star to commit to the Irish this cycle, and is another feather in the cap of the incredible Mike Mickens, who has proven time and time again that Notre Dame is the destination for elite secondary prospects.

So, what is Notre Dame getting in a player like O'Brien? The Irish Tribune's Max Uretsky had this to say about the two-way talent after breaking down the film:

"There are not many 6'3 DBs that have the type of long speed O'Brien possesses. His ball skills as a WR translate to this side of the ball as well, which is a huge plus. He shows very quick processing as a defender, getting in the backfield to break up screens and bubbles. O'Brien demonstrates that he can be a very physical press corner, utilizing good hand placement on his jam and disrupting the WR's ability to get into their route. He plays with elite awareness in zone coverage, following the eyes of the QB and jumping routes with good anticipation. Very good open field tackler who can differentiate between when to wrap up and when he can go for a big hit."

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There's no question that Notre Dame will continue to butt heads with the nation's best in the recruiting department, and the days of being just another hat on the table are beginning to feel like a distant memory under this regime. However, nothing is certain until the pen hits the paper, and now the Irish will need to ensure this commitment remains firm until signing day, something that has been a thorn in their side over the past few cycles. Regardless, securing a commitment from Joey O'Brien is certainly one of the biggest recruiting victories in the country, and the staff should be commended for their efforts.