Brandon Joseph goes candid on his recruitment to Notre Dame: ‘Well let’s make that 19’

On3 imageby:Ashton Pollard05/02/22

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Former Northwestern safety Brandon Joseph probably could have gone anywhere in the country. He certainly could have gone most places in the country. But he chose Notre Dame. Why?

Joseph recently joined Varsity House Podcast, hosted by former Irish defensive back Shaun Crawford, along with current Notre Dame players Houston Griffith, Jayson Ademilola and Justin Ademilola to discuss spring ball and various other topics surrounding Irish football. As the players revealed their goals for this year, Joseph went in-depth on the decision to become Irish.

“I see (myself) as another piece of the puzzle,” Joseph said. “Part of the reason I came here was because of how many people were returning. When they were recruiting me here, they said 18, and I was like ‘Well let’s make that 19. Put me in.’ They were just ranked top-five whenever I was watching them. Let’s go do this. Let’s go make it all the way.”

All told, 24 draft-eligible upperclassmen have returned, including two sixth-year seniors and 11 fifth years.

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In addition to looking back on January, Joseph has now been through a full spring with the Irish and had a moment to reflect on the similarities and differences from Northwestern.

“It’s been smooth,” Joseph said of the transition. “Football is football, but now I’m dealing with the dogs.”

The 6-1, 192-pound former three-star recruit played eight games in 2020 and notched six interceptions, which was atop the Power Five and led to an All-American designation. He had 79 tackles, three picks and four passes broken up last year for the Wildcats.

The Northwestern defense was stout in 2020, as the Wildcats made their second Big Ten title game in three years, but they struggled greatly in 2021 and finished 3-9. Now, Joseph is joining a defense that has been a model of consistency in college football in recent seasons. Notre Dame has held opponents to fewer than 20 points, on average, every year since 2018.

Through a semester at Notre Dame, Joseph has also established goals for himself, wanting to leave a legacy despite spending just a year or two in South Bend.

“I’m just trying to join the greatness,” Joseph said. “The people that have done what I’ve done and come here, they’ve been great.”

One such person is a good friend and previous host for Joseph at Northwestern. Former Irish receiver Ben Showronek joined the Notre Dame program from Northwestern as a graduate transfer in 2020. The 6-3, 220-pound outside receiver caught 29 balls for 439 yards and five touchdowns in blue and gold and added an additional rushing score. He was ultimately drafted in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft and just won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams. Joseph said Skowronek played a role in his decision to come to Notre Dame.

“I’m trying to take everyone to our final goals,” Joseph added. “When I was at Northwestern, we didn’t talk about that. Joining this culture, this may be repetitive because y’all might have talked about that forever, but like for me to join that again, to have the biggest goals at the end, that’s more me. Joining that, where everyone has that similar mindset, I just can’t wait to do it.

“Personally, I can’t wait to be one of the best safeties in the country. I think to do that I needed to be on a team like this surrounded by dogs like the ones on this defense. I was myself at Northwestern, but I think I need to be with elite players.”

It sounds like he’s well on his way to establishing himself as a top-notch safety on one of the biggest stages in college football. Mid-way through spring practice, Joseph had an interception in every practice in pads. He posted three tackles and a tackle for loss in the spring game.

Sept. 3 in Columbus against Ohio State will be a different beast, but so far, so good.

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