In a recruiting world dominated by traditional powerhouses and regionally rooted pipelines, one West Coast program is making a loud, late push to shake things up. That’s because 2026 five-star safety Joey O’Brien isn’t your everyday recruit.
The 6’4″, 180-pound safety from Glenside, Pennsylvania, is a unicorn in the secondary, blending elite size, speed, and fluidity. If that’s not it, then he comes off with the kind of versatility that college defenses dream about. In today’s age of positionless football, his rare frame and ability to cover, hit, and read offenses make him a coveted weapon.
Oregon Making Recruiting Push On 2026 Five-Star Safety Joey O’Brien
Despite five-star safety Joey O’Brien leaning towards Penn State and Notre Dame with a June 20 commitment looming, according to Ducks Digest’s Max Torres, “Oregon makes what is likely the last cut for Joey O’Brien ahead of his official visit to Eugene this weekend.”
He continued, “Chris Hampton and the Ducks have been trying to make some noise with Notre Dame and Penn State having a lot of buzz for much of this recruitment.”
Oregon makes what is likely the last cut for Joey O’Brien ahead of his official visit to Eugene this weekend.
Chris Hampton and the Ducks have been trying make some noise with Notre Dame and Penn State having a lot of buzz for much of this recruitment https://t.co/aCghibLe5L
— Max Torres (@mtorressports) June 5, 2025
And just like that, a full-blown recruiting race has a dark horse contender sprinting down the stretch.
For months, Notre Dame and Penn State have jockeyed for the pole position. Both offer elite defensive systems, rich traditions, and strong NFL track records that check nearly every box for a blue-chip prospect.
Notre Dame, with Marcus Freeman at the helm, has built one of the nation’s premier defensive cultures. The Irish just had safety Xavier Watts selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
He added another jewel to their legacy of producing pro-level DBs. Add in the draw of a world-class degree and a campus dripping in football history, and it’s easy to see why On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine favors the Irish right now.
Penn State, however, has the home-field advantage. Just a short drive from O’Brien’s hometown, James Franklin has carved out a hard-nosed identity on defense, and the results speak for themselves.
Under his tenure, no other active FBS head coach has produced more drafted defensive backs than Franklin’s 16. The Nittany Lions’ most recent additions to that list—Kevin Winston Jr. and Jaylen Reed—highlight the proven path from Happy Valley to the NFL.
Both programs seemed to have a firm grip on the race until Oregon showed up with a real chance to change the script.
Why Oregon Is Suddenly a Legit Threat?
Let’s be clear—Oregon didn’t just sneak into this one; they barged in, led by Chris Hampton, the Ducks’ co-defensive coordinator and DBs coach. Hampton earned national recognition for turning Tulane’s defense into a pass-breakup machine.
Well, he has also been one of the most active recruiters on O’Brien. His mission could be to prove to the elite Pennsylvania safety that Eugene is more than just distance and cool uniforms—it’s a launching pad for defensive greatness.
And now, after months of chasing, Oregon is getting one of the final official visits, scheduled for June 7–9. O’Brien will head to Notre Dame right after, but don’t discount the power of recency bias in a recruitment this tight. A good visit—complete with facility tours, player bonding, and pitch-perfect coaching plans—could leave a major imprint.
If the Ducks can pull it off, the impact would be massive. O’Brien would instantly become Oregon’s highest-rated commit in the 2026 class, giving a serious jolt to a recruiting cycle that currently sits around No. 28-30 nationally, well below the standard Dan Lanning has set in Eugene.
Then there’s the Oregon secret sauce: Nike. The Ducks’ NIL operation, backed by Nike founder Phil Knight and that iconic swoosh, is one of the best in the country. While Notre Dame and Penn State offer plenty of prestige, Oregon can offer not just exposure but a creative, well-funded NIL ecosystem that’s helped lure elite athletes from all over.
Another major card in Oregon’s deck? Early playing time. O’Brien would walk into a depth chart where opportunity is everywhere. The Ducks signed just one safety in 2025 (four-star Trey McNutt) and have only one commit for 2026 at the position (three-star Xavier Lherisse). For a player of O’Brien’s caliber, that’s an open runway to make an early impact.
Fit Watch Could Be Scheme, Role, and Where O’Brien Might Thrive
All three schools offer compelling systems, but in different ways. At Notre Dame and Penn State, O’Brien fits the mold of a prototypical strong safety: long, physical, and disciplined. He could serve as a box safety or deep-middle anchor in Big Ten- and ACC-style pro defenses. His size and tackling ability make him ideal for those schemes.
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But Oregon offers a different vision. With his past as a high school wide receiver, where he totaled 68 catches, 1,029 yards, and 12 TDs as a junior, O’Brien’s elite ball skills and athleticism could be fully unleashed in a hybrid “rover” or nickel role.
The Ducks love to weaponize rangy athletes in versatile spots, and O’Brien has all the tools to roam the field like a linebacker one play and blanket the slot the next.
Hampton and Lanning’s vision for him might just be the most creative—and that could be a decisive difference-maker.
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