Newsstand: Four-star athlete Joey O'Brien names Notre Dame to his top six schools

One of Notre Dame football’s top recruiting targets has narrowed his recruitment to six schools.
On Thursday night, Wyndmoor (P.a.) La Salle College four-star “athlete” Joey O’Brien announced he’s down to the Fighting Irish, Clemson, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State and Tennessee with On3 national recruiting reporter Hayes Fawcett.
According to the On3 Industry Ranking — a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services — O’Brien is the No. 69 overall player, No. 2 “athlete” nationally and No. 2 recruit in Pennsylvania in the 2026 class.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound defensive back/wide receiver is quite familiar with Notre Dame, unofficially visiting campus four times since last March. He will return to South Bend on June 3 for a multi-day official visit. O’Brien also has OVs scheduled to Clemson, Oregon, Penn State and Tennessee.
O’Brien held scholarship offers from 21 other programs before trimming his recruitment. Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, Florida State and Florida are among the teams that didn’t make the cut.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Derrion Reid
Alabama SF enters transfer portal
- 2New
No More Nico
Neyland removes QB pics from stadium
- 3Trending
Mario Cristobal
Miami HC warns team on holdouts
- 4
DJ Lagway injury
Florida QB's timeline updated
- 5
Flau'Jae Johnson
Posts cryptic LSU message
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
He was a Philadelphia Catholic League MVP last season, recording 36 tackles (32 solo), 13 pass breakups and 1 interception, as well as 68 catches for 1,029 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Notre Dame Posts of the Day
Charlotte (N.C.) Myers Park five-star EDGE Rodney Dunham verbally committed to the Fighting Irish on Thursday.
Former Irish cornerback Benjamin Morrison had an outstanding college career.
Here is a look at every Howard Cross III sack.
Notre Dame Quote of the Day
“Just the opportunities that they brought to me outside of football and with football. You’re getting developed by the best and you’re playing with the best, but also you’re getting a world-class education and great degree with amazing people around you. That’s what attracted me the most.”
— Dunham on his decision to commit to Notre Dame.
Notre Dame Headlines of the Day
- Lucky Charms: What’s next for Notre Dame defensive line recruiting?
- Predicting another North Carolina recruit to commit to Notre Dame
- Rodney Dunham’s Notre Dame commitment sets the stage for a landmark recruiting achievement
- Notre Dame football: How will the modified Blue-Gold Game work?
- How social media reacted to five-star EDGE Rodney Dunham’s Notre Dame commitment
- Five-star EDGE Rodney Dunham commits to Notre Dame football
- Five thoughts on five-star EDGE Rodney Dunham’s Notre Dame football commitment
- What the experts are saying about new Notre Dame commit Rodney Dunham
- Notre Dame lands a commitment from 5-star edge rusher Rodney Dunham Jr.
- Five thoughts: How has spring practice affected Notre Dame quarterback competition?
- Reading between Marcus Freeman’s lines: Who are Notre Dame football’s 2025 leaders?
- Newsstand: Where Notre Dame guard Sonia Citron appears in 2025 WNBA mock draft