2026 QB Brady Smigiel Thrilled by Notre Dame Offer

Notre Dame dipped into Southern California for its latest quarterback offer as 2026 Newbury Park (Calif.) signal caller Brady Smigiel‍ was offered on Thursday following a workout for Gino Guidugli. 

The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder had been looking forward to the workout for about a week as his father, who is the head coach at Newbury Park, advised him the Irish would be stopping by. 

“It was awesome,” Smigiel told ISD. “I was really pumped when my dad told me the week before that Notre Dame was coming. I was the one I was looking forward to the most. A bunch of schools are coming through for a bunch of my teammates and I. When I heard Notre Dame was coming, I was excited because they were a school I wanted to hear from and I hadn’t heard from yet.” 

Notre Dame isn’t Smigiel’s first big offer, so while there was a great deal of excitement, the California native knows there is a long process ahead of him. 

“It’s a blessing,” Smigiel said of the early attention. “I have to stay humble. I know I’m really young. I know coaches are going everywhere, but the biggest thing is building a relationship with all the quarterback coaches and coaches in general.“

Smigiel also understands how college football works and most of the coaches offering him now will be at different schools in the future, which is why relationships are important to him at this stage. 

“There are tons of offers, but a lot of these coaches aren’t there anymore, so I’m keeping in contact with them at whatever school they’re at now,” explained Smigiel. “With all the offers that I have received, there are only five or 10 that I’m consistently talking to coaches and really considering or trying to get out and visit.” 

The Newbury Park star doesn’t have a date set to visit South Bend just yet, but Notre Dame will get a visit and likely sooner than later. 

“I definitely want to go out there,” said Smigiel. “I’m trying to get out to the East in general. We have a bye week and we have nothing scheduled yet. I don’t know where I’m going to be yet, but Notre Dame is one of the schools I’ll be visiting as soon as possible.” 

Smigiel doesn’t have Notre Dame ties, but he has routinely watched the blue and gold on Saturdays and is well aware of the history of the program. 

“Notre Dame is a school I like to watch play,” Smigiel stated. “Whenever I’m watching TV, I’m always making sure I’m staying and watching it just because of everything going on at Notre Dame and all the past they’ve had - it’s just really fun to watch them play football.” 

And yes, Smigiel was excited to hear he had earned an offer from Notre Dame despite his mature approach. 

“I was freaking out here, to be honest with you,” laughed Smigiel. “It was one of if not my biggest offer now. Him saying I could call him and starting the journey of building a relationship with him was pretty awesome.” 

Offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah and Virginia Tech 

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish 20'' x 36'' Etched Wood Flag