Joey O'Brien on Notre Dame: 'This place is amazing'
That is until he visited South Bend.
The recent Notre Dame commit said his official visit with the Fighting Irish following his meeting with the Ducks was all he needed to know that he had found a new home.
O'Brien was immediately wowed by the Irish, noting that he was swayed on the first night by his "amazing" experience. The Irish were scorching hot on the recruiting trail in June, landing O'Brien as well as top cornerback Khary Adams, among other top prospects. And July has been no different.
Marcus Freeman and his staff certainly have comprised one of the strongest classes since the Lou Holtz era.
Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Dave on X: Miller_Dave
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
31 minutes ago
- USA Today
Rival Big Ten football coach inks long-term contract extension
The boat will continue to row up north in Minnesota. PJ Fleck, the head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, has signed a contract extension that will keep him locked up long-term. The border rival of the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Golden Gophers, extended PJ Fleck through 2030 with his new deal that was just recently signed. The extension was locked into place in early July by the Board of Regents. Fleck has been at just two FBS programs during his time as a head coach since 2013. He spent 2013-2016 with the Western Michigan Broncos, where he parlayed a 13-1 season and a Cotton Bowl trip into a head coaching job at Minnesota. He was 30-22 at Western Michigan. He joined Minnesota in 2017 and owns a career record of 56-39 with a Big Ten record of 33-36. The Gophers have ended the year with a winning record in five of Fleck's eight seasons. Iowa meets Minnesota annually for the Floyd of Rosedale trophy, a big, bronze pig that resides with the winner each year. Since taking over at Minnesota, Iowa has had Fleck's number. PJ Fleck owns just a 1-7 record against the Hawkeyes, with his only win coming in the extremely controversial ruling of Cooper DeJean's punt return fiasco. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
USA Today
39 minutes ago
- USA Today
Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 22 — Troy Dye
Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century. Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft. It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely. To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way. But who is the best of the best? That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success. Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks. If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings: Today, let's continue with No. 22 — the great Troy Dye. Player Overview Troy Dye was not a huge prospect coming out of high school, but the buzz around his name quickly grew when he enrolled at Oregon. His talent was glaring when he took the field early on as a true freshman, leading the team in tackles and emerging as a force on the Ducks' defense. The four-year starter was a fierce competitor who made a name for himself with his hard-hitting tackles and ability to diagnose plays in the backfield. The amount of time Dye spent integrating with the special community in Eugene, combined with the production he displayed, quickly turned him into a fan favorite and one of the most dominant Oregon defenders of the century. Troy Dye Career Stats 50 Games — 397 tackles, 45 TFL, 15 sacks, 5 INT Troy Dye Single Best Season 2017: 13 games – 107 tackles, 14 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery touchdown The Ducks had a pretty poor year for their standards in 2017, but Dye was one of the lone bright spots as he exceeded 100 tackles for the first time in his collegiate career. The team did improve their record from 4-8 in Dye's Freshman campaign, however, showing that he was a vital contributor to the growing culture in Eugene at the time. Troy Dye Historical Records Dye ranks No. 4 on the list of all-time leading tacklers at Oregon with 397 over his four seasons with the program. He is also tied for fourth on the list of most tackles for loss in Ducks history with 44. Troy Dye NFL Draft Although he became one of the most accomplished defenders in Oregon history, Dye fell to the back end of the fourth round in the 2020 NFL draft, where the Minnesota Vikings selected him with the 132nd pick. Troy Dye NFL Success Dye didn't get much of an opportunity to prove himself in Minnesota with just four starts over his last three seasons there. So, he signed a free agent deal with the Los Angeles Chargers last offseason, where he got a chance to truly shine. The fourth-year linebacker made the most of his playing time and finished with 57 tackles to go along with two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He recently signed a two-year extension with the team, so Dye finally seems to be finding his footing in the NFL. Troy Dye's Lasting Legacy The Ducks were in the middle of a rare dry spell during Dye's tenure, so naturally, his intense, passionate play resonated with the fanbase. He may not have been the most talented or most accomplished player Oregon has ever had, but he went a long way towards building the culture that is in place with the program today. It's a shame Dye never got to witness the sustained winning the team in Eugene is experiencing now, but it would not be possible without his contributions. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Steelers countdown to kickoff — No. 59: a history of the number and who wore it best
The Steelers countdown to kickoff is here — and we're at 59 days until Pittsburgh faces off against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. In the spirit of the countdown, we're taking a look at the history of No. 59 and the players who wore it best. Current Steelers No. 59 wearer: N/A There is no current wearer of No. 59 on the Steelers roster. Last five Steelers to wear No. 59: Best No. 59 in Steelers history: LB Jack Ham There is no Steeler more deserving as the best wearer of No. 59 than LB Jack Ham. Drafted by Pittsburgh with the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft, Ham would play for the Steelers from 1971-1982. One of the most instinctive linebackers in NFL history, Ham played a crucial role on Pittsburgh's famous Steel Curtain defense. He played a huge part in kickstarting the Steelers into a dynasty — helping the Steel City capture four Super Bowl championships. Ham was an eight-time Pro Bowler, six-time First-Team All-Pro, and two-time Second-Team All-Pro. He was also named to the NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team, the NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team, and the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor. A legendary linebacker on the field — a Steeler forever etched in the hearts of the Pittsburgh faithful — Ham is the undoubtedly best No. 59. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
