2026 DB Nick Reddish commits to Notre Dame football over Virginia Tech

Notre Dame added commitment No. 26 to its 2026 recruiting class on Friday evening when Charlotte (N.C.) Independence safety Nick Reddish announced his pledge to the Fighting Irish over finalists Indiana, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.

The longtime Irish target spoke to Blue & Gold before going public with his decision about why he picked Notre Dame.

“Honestly, the biggest factor in my decision was the education,” Reddish said. “Their ‘4 for 40’ saying stuck with me. Football is going to end some day, and you need to know what you’re going to do with your life after football. All the networking and everything they have to offer will help set me up for life.”

Reddish was one of Notre Dame’s Pot of Gold Day offers back in March 2024, and he’s visited campus four times. He was in South Bend last spring and summer and visit No. 3 took place in April 2025.

The 5-11, 180-pounder was one of 21 prospects who officially visited Notre Dame the weekend of June 13, and during the first night of the trip, it clicked internally while at Marcus Freeman’s house that he wanted to commit. After a few days of reflection and thanking other coaches for recruiting him, he made the call to commit.

The staff was out of the office, but he individually called up Freeman, general manager Mike Martin, director of recruiting Carter Auman and defensive backs coaches Mike Mickens and Jevaughn Codlin.

“They were telling me how I’m not going to regret this decision,” recalled Reddish.

The versatile defender raved about the job the staff did recruiting him, including Freeman, the recruiting office and of course, Mickens.

“He’s been involved in my recruiting process forever,” Reddish said of Mickens. “Even after I got injured, he stuck with me and told me that God has a plan for me.

“What really solidified Notre Dame for me was when Coach Freeman came to my school 10 days after they played in the national championship game. Him coming down here to talk to me was a crazy, surreal feeling.”

Reddish was one of five defensive backs on campus during the June 13 official visit weekend. With his commitment, all of them are now pledged to the Irish.

“I connected with everyone,” he noted. “I hung around the other defensive backs the most, but I got along with everyone. We all talked the entire trip; no one was on their phone very much. The whole trip was amazing.”

More details on Nick Reddish

During the second game of his junior year, Reddish suffered a broken fibula. He was close to playing at the end of the season but was advised to not rush his return.

Reddish ranks as the No. 587 overall player and No. 50 safety in America according to the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking, and a large part of his three-star ranking is because he didn’t have a junior campaign. But he’s been back to 100 percent for several months now and is ready to impress as a senior.

“I’m overly fired up,” Reddish said. “Getting back out there, flying around and being around the guys — I’m ready to play ball again.”

Most programs that were showing interest in him but hadn’t offered yet cooled their contact with Reddish, but the main schools that were after him kept pushing. That obviously included Notre Dame.

Reddish is the only sub-6 foot defensive back in the Irish’s class and also has a unique skill set. He’s more of a strong safety/nickel who is the most physical and best tackler of the group.

“I’m planning to play nickel. They’ll move me around, and I don’t have a set position,” Reddish added. “I can move anywhere in the secondary.”

According to his school’s MaxPreps page, Reddish totaled 95 tackles (3 for loss), 4 interceptions, 10 pass break ups, 4 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles during his sophomore season. Reddish was named to the Southwestern 4A Conference’s all-conference team in 2023.

In addition to his finalists, Reddish held offers from the likes of North Carolina, Tennessee, Ole Miss, USC, Missouri and UCF.

Sources indicate that Virginia Tech was Notre Dame’s biggest challenger, as his two older brothers — Joseph and Quentin Reddish — currently play for the Hokies. Quentin is a sophomore safety, while Joseph, a junior cornerback, transferred from Wingate. 

Reddish will sign with Notre Dame in December and enroll early in January.