Notre Dame Football predicted to land Top-50 priority 2026 recruit after phenomenal recent visit to South Bend
Even before his recruitment blew up, Notre Dame football valued 2026 Glenside (Pa.) La Salle College cornerback Joey O'Brien in a big way. They were one of the earliest offers, and have proceeded to push hard for him for well over a year. It appears Mike Mickens and Notre Dame's efforts could be paying off, […]
Even before his recruitment blew up, Notre Dame football valued 2026 Glenside (Pa.) La Salle College cornerback Joey O'Brien in a big way. They were one of the earliest offers, and have proceeded to push hard for him for well over a year. It appears Mike Mickens and Notre Dame's efforts could be paying off, and good news is on the horizon.
Steve Wiltfon, the On3 Vice President of recruiting, logged an expert prediction in favor of Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have been in a very difficult battle with Penn State, understandable since O'Brien is from a very pro-Penn State area. Despite that, the Irish staff hasn't let up.
O’Brien is rated as the No. 48 overall player, the No. 5 athlete, and the No. 1 player in the state of Pennsylvania in the 2026 class by 247Sports. Some see O’Brien as a safety, while Notre Dame values him at the cornerback position. At 6-4 and 190 pounds, he is a tremendous athlete that brings a lot of upside to the table.
On top of Notre Dame and Penn State, O'Brien has put together a long list of impressive offers. Some of the top programs that have offered him include Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Miami, Clemson, Florida State, Michigan State, Missouri, Syracuse, West Virginia, Stanford, Boston College, UCLA, Duke, Indiana, and Illinois among others.
As a junior, O'Brien put together a tremendous junior campaign. On defense, he collected 36 total tackles, one interception, and 13 pass breakups. O'Brien was even better on offense, where he hauled in 68 receptions for 1,029 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also threw a touchdown for some added fun.
