Notre Dame football continues to gain national recognition for elite recruiting at one position in particular for the 2026 class

When secondary coach Mike Mickens came to Notre Dame prior to the 2020 college football season, the back end for the Fighting Irish was a bit of a mess. Coach Mickens was responsible just for the cornerbacks at that point, so recruiting and developing that position was the top priority. Fast forward five years, and he has become one of the very best in the country, having tutored the likes of Benjamin Morrison, Leonard Moore, Cam Hart, and Christian Gray.

Before last season, Coach Mickens also took over the whole secondary, and we saw his impact with the safeties in 2024. With the ascension of Watts and Shuler now under his belt as well, Mickens has the Fighting Irish secondary in a tremendous place. People around the country are now taking notice.

In the 2026 recruiting class, Coach Mickens has been flexing his muscles. He has nailed down a five-man secondary group that is tremendous, including five-star Joey O'Brien, Khary Adams, Ayden Pouncey, Chaston Smith, and Nick Reddish. In an article from Keegan Pope from the Rivals network, he highlighted the secondary classes in the 2026 class. The Fighting Irish were included on the list, joined by Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, Miami, Florida State, and Texas A&M.

Here is what Pope wrote about the Notre Dame class.

Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish have been recruiting on a different level since Marcus Freeman took over, but after their CFP title game appearance last year, things have been kicked up another notch. And a big part of that is their class on the back end of the defense. Rangy 6’5 safety Joey O’Brien and elite cornerback Khary Adams draw most of the attention — and rightfully so. Both could very reasonably play their way into five-star rankings this fall. They’re surrounded by another pair of four-stars in Ayden Pouncey, whose brothers both played at Florida, and Rivals300 corner Chaston Smith. Three-star safety Nick Reddish is coming off a leg injury that cost him his entire junior season, but as a sophomore he totaled 95 tackles (3 for loss), 4 interceptions, 10 pass break ups, 4 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles.

It has been a very long time since we have seen a secondary class like this for the Notre Dame program. O'Brien has an argument as the best secondary recruit to come to South Bend since Kyle Hamilton. You can also argue that Adams is the best cornerback recruit that Mickens has signed as well. It is truly an elite group.