Notre Dame goes back into California for third 2026 quarterback offer
Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli offered a third passer in the 2026 cycle. On Thursday, Newbury Park (Calif.) High freshman Brady Smigiel reported a Fighting Irish scholarship offer.
Last week, Guidugli offered Carrollton (Ga.) High’s Julian Lewis and Nashville (Tenn.) Christian School’s Jared Curtis. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Smigiel reports 13 Power Five offers.
In addition to Notre Dame, Georgia, Michigan, Penn State, Florida State, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, Utah, Arizona State, Arizona, Kansas and Colorado have offered Smigiel.
Smigiel has given early attention to Michigan and Florida State by visiting each school. He’s also been to Oregon, Oregon State and Southern California. However, those three schools have not yet offered.
As a freshman, Smigiel led the Newbury Park Panthers to a 9-3 record and into the second round of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.
In 12 games, Smigiel completed 228-346 passes (65.9%) for 3,479 yards, 46 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He had a 125.2 quarterback rating. Smigiel also rushed for 182 yards and five touchdowns on 62 carries.
Smigiel does not yet hold an On3 or On3 Industry Ranking rating. His On3 NIL Valuation annual value is $17,800. That ranks 1,655 among high school football players.
In the internet recruiting era (since 2002), Notre Dame has signed five quarterbacks from California: Tyler Buchner (2021), Ian Book (2016), Dayne Crist (2008), Jimmy Clausen (2007) and Darrin Bragg (2004).
A glimpse at the recruits Notre Dame has offered in 2026
The Irish have previously extended offers to 11 high school freshmen: Lewis, Curtis, wide receivers Chris Henry Jr. and Daniel Odom, offensive tackle Samuelu Utu, defensive lineman James “Tank” Carrington, linebacker Anthony Jones, safety Jireh Edwards and athletes Jonah Smith, Trent Mosley and Madden Williams.
Most of the prospects the Irish have formally offered in 2026 are budding players from elite high schools.
Odom and Williams attend Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco and Smith hails from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei. Carrington and Edwards play for Baltimore St. Frances Academy. According to MaxPreps, each school finished in the final 2022 Top 25 national high school football composite rankings.
Henry, who attends Cincinnati Withrow High, is the son of former Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry.
Mosley is a double-Irish legacy and the younger brother of 2024 wide receiver target Emmett Mosley. Their father played football at Notre Dame, and their mother was a soccer star for the Irish. The youngest Mosley attends Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Catholic.
Notre Dame also offered a scholarship to Jones, a product of Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul’s Episcopal, last Thursday. Utu, who plays at Orange (Calif.) Luthern, picked up his Irish offer on Wednesday.
