Notre Dame Commit Profile: Safety Nick Reddish

Notre Dame landed another talented defensive back when North Carolina safety Nick Reddish committed to the Fighting Irish. Reddish was the final piece to a secondary class that is arguably the best in the country in the 2026 recruiting cycle.

Let's look at the recruiting profile for Reddish.

NICK REDDISH PROFILE

Hometown/High School: Charlotte, N.C./Independence

Height/Weight: 5-11, 185

IB Grade: N/A
Upside Grade: N/A

2023 Stats: 95 tackles, 10 pass break ups, 4 interceptions

Player Comp: Thomas Harper, Notre Dame

Recruited By: Mike Mickens

Offers: Notre Dame, USC, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Missouri, Virginia Tech, Louisville, North Carolina, NC State, West Virginia, Indiana, Wisconsin, Wake Forest, UCF, Duke, Cincinnati

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RECRUITING RANKINGS

Rivals: 3-star - No. 17 safety
On3: 3-star - No. 57 safety
247Sports: 3-star - No. 58 safety
ESPN: 3-star - No. 63 safety
On3 Consensus: 3-star - No. 587 overall - No. 50 safety
247Sports Composite: 3-star - No. 681 overall - No. 62 safety

NOTRE DAME FIT

Reddish can line up all over the Notre Dame defense, and that versatility is something the staff covets in him and in other top secondary recruits. Reddish can play both safety spots thanks to his athleticism, instincts and ability to thrive against the run and play well in coverage. He was a tackling machine as a sophomore (95 tackles), but he also broke up 10 passes and picked off four passes, showing his impressive all-around skills. His body type and skillset also fits very well at the nickel position. It would seems that Notre Dame values more than one body type at nickel, and Reddish projects quite well to the role. He can handle the physical aspects of playing the slot but he can also run and cover.

FILM ANALYSIS

The other four secondary commits are listed at 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 and 6-2, so the 5-11, 185-pound Reddish doesn't exactly fit the profile of the rest of the class. But that's more of a unique aspect to Notre Dame's recruiting at the position in recent seasons. When look around college football a player of his size is more than big/long enough to play safety. His body type is quite well suited for the nickel position. Reddish is also a physical defender that packs a punch as a tackler, and he projects to be very good at defeating perimeter blocks against outside runs and the perimeter screen game.

Reddish is a really smooth athlete who has impressive change of direction skills. He's fluid working backwards and side-to-side, and his ability to quickly redirect is really impressive. He can plant and drive downhill against the run in impressive fashion, from both a quickness, range and physicality standpoint. He is smooth opening up and running in coverage and shows efficient footwork. His range fits well on the back end but his short area burst and change of direction skills fit very well at the nickel spot. Reddish shows very good long speed on film.

His 10 pass break ups and four interceptions as a sophomore is a really impressive statistic, and his film shows you why he was that productive. Reddish is a very smart and instinctive defender against both the run (95 tackles) and pass. He makes quick decisions, takes very good angles to the football and closes extremely well. I'm impressed with his route recognition skills and he reads quarterbacks extremely well. His instincts allow Reddish to maximize his athletic skills and make him so productive.

Reddish is a fundamentally sound and well-coached football player as well. He shows efficient footwork, has clean transition skills and he's a strong tackler from both a power standpoint and technique standpoint. He rarely finds himself in bad spots both in coverage and in the run game. He's patient when he needs to be, but when he commits he flies to the football. Reddish shows a knack for making plays, and part of that is his athleticism and instincts. Another part of that is that he has been coached well and is often put in position to make plays, and he takes full advantage of that.