Notre Dame Adds Defensive Depth as 3-Star Safety Nick Reddish Commits to Irish, Becomes Latest 2026 Class Building Block

Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class continues to gain momentum, and its latest commitment brings both promise and toughness to the secondary. On Friday afternoon, 3-star safety Nick Reddish officially announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish, ending his recruitment early and choosing the tradition, opportunity, and development pipeline in South Bend over other schools that had been hot on his trail.

Reddish, the No. 62 safety in the nation for the 2026 cycle, according to 247Sports Composite rankings, is also rated as the No. 27 overall player in the state of North Carolina. The 6-foot, 185-pound safety out of Cleveland High School (Clayton, NC) made his decision known on social media, posting a graphic with the caption “1000% COMMITTED” alongside Notre Dame’s iconic Golden Dome in the background. The announcement sparked immediate reactions from Irish fans and fellow recruits, with many already predicting Reddish to be an important tone-setter for the secondary.

While Reddish may not carry the same number of stars as some of Notre Dame’s flashier commitments in past cycles, those who have followed his high school career closely know just how valuable his presence on the back end of the defense can be. Known for his instincts, sure tackling, and high football IQ, Reddish has consistently flown under the radar, largely due to playing in a region with stacked talent across multiple defensive backfields. Still, college programs recognized his upside early.

Reddish chose the Irish over offers and interest from North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest, Duke, and South Carolina, among others. He visited Notre Dame this past June for a recruiting weekend that featured a mix of 5-star headliners and blue-collar grinders. Despite being surrounded by higher-ranked talent, Reddish stood out in positional meetings, bonding with safeties coach Chris O’Leary and showing a deep understanding of both coverage principles and run fits. That visit proved pivotal, and Notre Dame made it a priority to close.

For Reddish, the decision came down to fit. “It’s not just about football,” he said in an interview after his announcement. “Notre Dame is about being part of something bigger. I want to play for a program where faith, discipline, and development are part of the everyday process. I saw that on my visit, and I felt that bond with the coaching staff and the players. It felt right.”

Defensive coordinator Al Golden and the Notre Dame staff envision Reddish as a versatile piece in the secondary. Though he primarily plays strong safety in high school, his film shows a willingness to crash downhill against the run and drop into deep zones when called upon. That versatility is what caught the attention of multiple Power Five programs, but Notre Dame offered the clearest pathway to development.

“He’s the kind of player you build a room around,” one coach familiar with Reddish said. “He’s smart, vocal, and plays fast. You can tell he’s thinking about the bigger picture every time he lines up.”

With the commitment, Notre Dame now holds a growing group of pledges in the 2026 cycle, and Reddish becomes the first safety to join that class. His early commitment gives the Irish an edge in recruiting chemistry and leadership among the defensive backs. Reddish is already expected to take on a recruiting role, much like Lamar Brown has for LSU or Malachi Toliver for Georgia in recent cycles.

“Nick’s the kind of kid other players want to play with,” Cleveland High head coach Scott Riley said. “He’s a great communicator, he watches film like a college player, and he leads without ego. It doesn’t surprise me Notre Dame wanted him early. He’s going to be a culture fit there.”

Reddish had a standout junior season, tallying 71 total tackles, four tackles for loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a defensive touchdown. His instincts on tape are among his most valuable traits — he reads quarterbacks well, anticipates routes, and rarely finds himself out of position. While his testing numbers may not light up combine charts just yet, his play speed and angles in pursuit are elite for a high school junior. College coaches repeatedly cite his anticipation and coachability as reasons to be bullish on his long-term upside.

Analysts also believe Reddish is a classic Notre Dame-style defensive back — tough, focused, and dedicated to both sides of his development. “He’s a high-floor player,” a regional scout said. “He might not wow you in a camp setting, but in pads, under the lights, and in big moments, he delivers.”

The Irish secondary, already stacked with young talent from recent cycles, continues to evolve under Coach O’Leary’s direction. While it’s still too early to project Reddish as a starter as a freshman, his game suggests he could be a valuable rotation piece early in his career and work his way into a leadership role by Year 2 or 3. His ability to play in both base and sub-packages is likely to help his path toward the field.

Notre Dame’s current safety room includes younger rising stars, but depth is always in demand, especially in today’s college football world, where defensive backs are expected to do more than ever. Reddish’s ability to fill multiple roles — in the box, over the slot, or as a deep safety — makes him a strategic fit for a Notre Dame defense that prides itself on disguising coverages and rotating personnel.

What’s next for Notre Dame in the 2026 class? With Reddish now in the fold, the staff is expected to ramp up its pursuit of additional defensive playmakers, particularly at cornerback and linebacker. Reddish’s recruitment and commitment could also help sway some of the more undecided recruits who’ve expressed interest in joining a strong culture.

As the recruiting cycle unfolds, Notre Dame’s early identification of high-character, high-IQ players continues to shape its class. Reddish is emblematic of that philosophy. He’s not the loudest voice in the room, nor the most viral recruit on social media. But his game speaks for itself — and the Notre Dame staff knows they’ve landed someone who is ready to develop into a difference-maker, on and off the field.

For now, Reddish is locked in. “I’m shutting it down,” he said. “I found the right place, and now it’s about getting better, staying humble, and preparing for that next level. South Bend is where I want to be.”

The 2026 class still has a long way to go, but Friday’s news marks another win for a program determined to compete at the highest level. With Reddish now part of the brotherhood, Notre Dame’s future in the defensive backfield just got stronger — and smarter.