Film Don't Lie | Joey O'Brien

By Jamie Uyeyama

June 20, 2025

11,313

For as long as there has been a 2026 recruiting board for Notre Dame, it’s seemed like Joey O'Brien‍ was at or near the top of the list. Mike Mickens and the coaching staff got their guy with O’Brien announcing his commitment to Notre Dame after completing his official visits.

A multi-sport athlete (basketball) with two-way impact at the high school level, O’Brien is a playmaker on both sides of the ball. He had a school record 1,029 yards receiving last season and had 14 total passes defended as a defensive back. He’s one of the elite safeties in this cycle and is a huge get for Notre Dame’s class.

Height: 6’5”

Weight: 185

Projected Position: Safety

ISD Grade: 94 (4-star)

National Average Grade: 94.9 (4-star)

What he does best:

O’Brien has great instincts. He’s able to recognize plays and accelerate to make plays in a hurry like he does on this perimeter screen.

He can get downhill versus the run and is a solid wrap tackler.

He’s been exceptionally productive in finding the football in coverage. He plays with good eye discipline and he has the ball skills to finish.

He did an outstanding job of reading the quarterback there and it’s something he has done well with when shining in 7 on 7. He’s perfectly suited to thrive robbing underneath routes in coverage.

He’s played corner and safety where he’s shown the ability and compete level to win in man coverage.

It’s one thing to have the brain to put himself in the position to make plays, but his length and athleticism is what sets him apart. He’s a twitchy athlete who has displayed explosive leaping ability to attack the football when it’s in the air and in dunking on the basketball court.

What he needs to improve:

He’s been a dominant 7 on 7 player and is a ballhawk when playing. So much of that is him making great plays breaking on shorter routes, but I’d like to see him make more plays as a deep safety in games this fall. He checks a whole lot of boxes already with his versatility, but that’s an area where I’d like to see a bit more.

The way he tracks the ball as a receiver combined with his length and long strides make me believe he’ll be able to cover a lot of ground.

What’s his ceiling?

I don’t think O’Brien is best suited to play corner, but he has the skills to play there and that’s what makes him an outstanding prospect as a safety. He can do multiple things at a high level and has the tools to become a chess piece for Notre Dame’s defense.

I see a lot of things in his game that could see him flip roles depending on the matchup in a given week and he can become a big time playmaker in subpackages as well.

Kyle Hamilton sets a high bar in terms of what kind of prospect he was in high school and the player he became at Notre Dame. O’Brien’s stature and talent are enough to warrant a comparison, though. I think Hamilton was a slightly better prospect at this same stage as a recruit, but O’Brien can be the same kind of versatile playmaker and potentially play at an All-American level.