Five-star defensive back Joey O’Brien, one of the nation’s most coveted recruits, is set to announce his college commitment on June 20 after wrapping up official visits to Clemson, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Penn State—his four final contenders in a high-stakes recruitment battle.Navy All‑American Joey O’Brien is on the brink of the most important decision of his young football career. The elite five‑star defensive back from La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, has officially wrapped up his visits to Clemson, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Penn State. On June 20, 2025, he will permanently close this chapter by announcing his college commitment, a move that will reverberate through college football’s elite conference races.
A 6-foot-3, 185-pound safety/defensive back who can also play receiver, O’Brien enters Decision Day as one of the most electrifying and versatile prospects in the Class of 2026. Rated as a five-star athlete and nationally top-30 recruit by 247Sports, he’s regarded as the No. 4 safety in his class and ranked as Pennsylvania’s top player .
O’Brien’s announcement date has seemed ominous for weeks — he confirmed it himself: “I am in decision‑making (mode)… I am still talking to all the coaches. Hopefully, I will try and make a decision by Thursday and go from there,” he told 247Sports as the decision neared .
The official visits are done. He’s had his time on the Clemson campus and spent significant time at Penn State. In the days leading up to June 20, he visited Oregon and Notre Dame, ending his Notre Dame trip just a week before his commitment . With that, the major pieces are in place — now, the lenses are nationally fixed on what comes next.
Each finalist offers a compelling vision:
- Clemson, headed into a high-profile Atlantic Coast Conference showdown with Notre Dame starting 2027 , gives O’Brien the chance to follow in the footsteps of elite defensive backs under their vaunted program.
- Notre Dame boasts recent success in DB recruiting, thanks in part to the transformation under coach Marcus Freeman and defensive backs coach Mike Mickens. In fact, analysts like Tom Lemming have suggested that Notre Dame adding O’Brien would “be massive,” and that the Irish could be raising their backfield to historic heights .
- Penn State has built momentum in the Pennsylvania recruiting landscape, locking in several top‑10 prospects from the state and emphasizing O’Brien as a top target.
- Oregon is a newer entrant and considered the “wild card” — its rise in recruiting rankings and program excitement has piqued O’Brien’s interest .
In interviews, recruiting insiders describe O’Brien’s recruitment as fluid. Per Hayes Fawcett on X, he tweeted: “NEWS: Elite 2026 Safety Joey O’Brien is down to Oregon, Notre Dame, Penn State, & Clemson… he will announce his Commitment June 20th.” This aligns with Penn State’s Mark Wogenrich, who noted that O’Brien “schedules June 20 announcement… Penn State is a finalist” and that the decision concludes a tour through all four schools .
O’Brien’s talent profile is built on rare two-way ability. On defense, scouts admire his length, athleticism, coverage instincts, and eye-popping upside at safety — “a coverage ace that can shade passing windows and create takeaways,” according to 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins . On offense, he has proven his hands and route-running as a receiver, catching 68 passes for over 1,000 yards in his last high school season .
The decision he makes on June 20 matters widely. It will cap off summer recruiting, shape conference talent balances, and significantly impact the respective depth charts of these four programs. One sportswriter noted that while Notre Dame had been the frontrunner, the renewed push by Clemson and Oregon makes this far from a foregone conclusion .
For Notre Dame, an O’Brien commitment would underscore its recent DB recruiting renaissance. Their secondary has been elite for two straight seasons, topping the FBS in pass efficiency defense . O’Brien could help sustain that and complement existing high-end safety recruits like Ayden Pouncey and cornerbacks like Chaston Smith .
Penn State, anchored by their Lasch Bash period and strong PA pipeline, would gain a home-state star — a local defensive centerpiece who would strengthen their Big Ten secondary continuity .
Clemson remains a national contender in the ACC, with high-level coaching and development. While maybe not the momentum leader, their infrastructure and winning tradition keeps them in the mix.
Oregon, with a younger and dynamic defense, offers O’Brien an alternative of spotlight opportunity in the Pac-12, under modern college football programming.
Now, as June 20 draws near, O’Brien is said to be in final deliberations — weighing coaching fits, player development trajectories, academic environments, and long-term growth plans. His “decision‑making mode” suggests a conscientious choice, not just the product of last-minute pitches .
The outcome will provide the culmination of a recruiting pursuit central to each school’s 2026 class. Penn State’s Mark Wogenrich reports O’Brien’s visit cycle is complete, and his focus is narrowing . Notre Dame analysts call the situation “looming large” — their last official visit came just a week before decision day .
There’s consensus among experts: this one is fluid. Notre Dame has momentum, but Clemson and Oregon have surged. And Penn State remains steady and strong.
Come June 20, O’Brien’s choice will resonate not just in PA, but across the fabric of college football recruiting. In embodying the port of all four universities, he holds a rare leverage — a strong hand to shape his future and an opportunity to step into a prominent collegiate role from day one.
As Navy All‑American Joey O’Brien inches toward Decision Day, fans, analysts, and teammates know this: a special talent stands ready to unlock a defining door. No matter which helmet he eventually places on his head, his commitment will mark a major milestone for whichever program secures him — and reaffirm that his journey, like his impact on the field, is only beginning.
