Joey O'Brien holds the FS · Depth spot in Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s safety room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Joey O'Brien is a 6'5" free safety from Roxborough, Pennsylvania, who attended La Salle Prep. A five-star recruit and the 31st-ranked prospect in the 2026 class, O'Brien earned 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps All-American honors. In his senior season, he recorded 85 receptions for 1,250 yards and 18 touchdowns on offense while posting 49 tackles, four interceptions, and 12 passes defended defensively. He capped his prep career with 10 catches for 99 yards, a touchdown pass, and three interceptions including a pick-six in the PIAA 6A state championship game. O'Brien joined Notre Dame as a true freshman.

Notre Dame2026 — present