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With less than 100 days remaining until the start of the 2026 college football season, rosters across the country are beginning to take shape.

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ESPN ranks college football's top 100 newcomers for 2026 season

Notre Dame freshman safety Joey O'Brien, who left the Blue-Gold Game on crutches this past Saturday, underwent surgery on his left leg. However, he

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Blue and Gold Football

Blue and Gold

Joey O'Brien injury update: Latest on five-star Notre Dame freshman safety

Of course, Joey O'Brien wants to play right away.  Everyone does, particularly those with a fifth star next to their name. If he didn't, Notre Dame

In stacked Notre Dame safety room, five-star freshman Joey O'Brien content to wait his turn

This story appears in the 2026 Notre Dame football recruiting issue of Blue & Gold Illustrated. Click here to get your copy!  Joey O’Brien’s

Joey O'Brien

Blue and Gold Football Recruiting

How Notre Dame five-star safety Joey O'Brien found calm at the finish

Having a strong off-field recruiting department is a necessity to compete in today’s college football landscape.  Programs competing for or building

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Rivals

College football's off-field recruiting stars of the 2026 cycle

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2026 ATH Joey O'Brien. (Kyle Kelly/Blue & Gold)

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Notre Dame defensive back recruit Joey O'Brien

Notre Dame defensive back recruit Joey O'Brien.

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Indiana

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La Salle College

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Safety

Penn State

Tall safety with elite instincts and ball skills. Measured at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds with 32.5-inch arms and 9.75-inch hands at Rivals Five-Star before his senior season. A two-way star at the high school level, showing his playmaking ability as a safety and wide receiver. One of the more dominant players we’ve seen on the 7-on-7 circuit over the years. Has elite coverage instincts. Seems to see routes before they develop. Jumps passes and comes down with remarkable interceptions. An absolute menace when defending intermediate routes over the middle of the field. Has sticky hands, making him a walking turnover. Smart player who understands how defenses work. Showing encouraging physicality as a senior. Doubles as a good high school basketball player. Lacks recent verified speed, but showed good play speed in man coverage against top wide receivers on the camp circuit. Will benefit from time in a college strength program, as he will need to add mass and strength. Playmaking ability and instincts make him one of the top safeties in a deep cycle at the position. 

Joey O'Brien Scouting Summary

2026 safety Joey O’Brien had a big showing at the OT7 Finals. The Glenside (Pa.) La Salle College product was a ballhawk all week, snaring four interceptions by our count. O’Brien has advanced ball skills and good size at this very early stage of his high school career.

Joey O'Brien has breakout showing at OT7 Finals

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