Four-star defensive back Joey O’Brien’s commitment to Notre Dame has suddenly garnered more than enough attention, as he chose the Fighting Irish over a strong, aggressive push from the Oregon Ducks. No one saw it coming before the announcement. But when he declared that he’s ready to do “whatever it takes to win” for the Fighting Irish, the moment became a significant upset for the Ducks.
Elite Recruit Joey O’Brien Committed To Notre Dame Over Oregon Ducks
Honestly, no one ever thought the clock was ticking toward one of the most unexpected announcements of the 2026 recruiting class. However, it appeared on Friday. O’Brien officially committed to Notre Dame, choosing the Fighting Irish over Oregon, Clemson, and Penn State.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound standout is ranked as the No. 4 safety and the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania, according to 247Sports. His decision shocked everyone, especially since Oregon had made one of the biggest recruiting pushes in recent memory to land him.
Oregon was considered a serious contender after his official visit to Eugene earlier this month. Many insiders believed they had a legitimate chance. So, his decision to commit to Notre Dame caught many people off guard.
Live on instagram at @joey__obrien. 715‼️ pic.twitter.com/zdRlQ689ay
— Joey O’Brien (@Joey_obrien6) June 19, 2025
In a video teasing his commitment, O’Brien thanked his coaches and teammates, noting, “I’ve been totally blessed to be in this situation… it was always just a dream until my freshman year, went into the OT7 Championship. And that’s when I realized like ‘Dang, I can really do this. I’m sticking with these guys. I got what it takes to do it.”
He added, “I just want to say thank you to all the schools that recruited me. Just thank you for taking the chance on me. I really appreciate that. They’re going to get a hard worker, competitive beast out there. To be honest, I’m doing whatever it takes to win. Just from a personal standpoint, you’re going to get a respectful, nice kid who is just going to be cool with everybody. He’s going to be a good person.”
Notre Dame’s recruiting momentum played a significant role in securing his commitment. O’Brien visited South Bend just five days before announcing his commitment. He said his strong bond with head coach Marcus Freeman and defensive backs coach Mike Mickens made a big impact.
With O’Brien on board, the Fighting Irish add even more firepower to their 2026 class, which already includes Khary Adams, Ayden Pouncey, and Chaston Smith. Some analysts are calling this one of the best Irish secondaries in recent memory. And talking about the video he teased, it gives us real hope that Marcus Freeman just landed a future leader.
