"They’re definitely high on my recruiting board" — 2026 class S Nick Reddish makes impressive comments about Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame

Nick Reddish, a safety from Charlotte (N.C.) Independence in the class of 2026, enjoyed a short trip to South Bend on June 18 to visit Notre Dame. This one-day visit gave him a unique perspective on the program, and he left with high praise for the Fighting Irish.

Reddish enjoyed productive discussions with defensive coordinator Al Golden and defensive backs coach Mike Mickens, along with a personal meeting with head coach Marcus Freeman. Reddish was full of praise for Notre Dame's coaching staff during an interview with Blue & Gold and also revealed the program's place on his priority list.

“They’re definitely high on my recruiting board right now. It’s a great place. It’s hard to compete with their education and high level of football. I’m still looking at other schools, but Notre Dame is definitely up there, for sure,” he said.

Reddish's first encounter with Notre Dame was during the Blue-Gold Game in April. His recent visit allowed him to engage more deeply with the players and observe the dynamic between the coaches and the team.

The prospect was impressed by the brotherhood and the culture at Notre Dame, as he told Irish Sports Daily:

“They were great people. They just looked like they're the reason for the culture at Notre Dame. They speak for the standard itself.”

Reddish hopes to return to South Bend for a game this season. If that isn't possible, he plans to make an official visit next year.

Reddish's performance on the field has been impressive, but he has yet to be rated by On3 and 247Sports. He tallied 95 total tackles, 10 pass breakups and four interceptions in his sophomore season.

Nick Reddish shares his experience of getting an offer from Notre Dame

Nick Reddish has already received offers from prestigious schools including Wisconsin, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, USC, Duke, Ole Miss, North Carolina and Missouri. At midnight on June 15, the first day that college coaches were permitted to contact high school prospects in the 2026 class, Reddish got his first call, and it was from Notre Dame.

“It was a crazy night," Reddish told Blue & Gold. "I was on my phone, waiting for coaches to hit me up at midnight, and it’s crazy that Notre Dame was the first staff to call me. That’s a great feeling, that I’m important to them even when I’m not visiting.”

According to On3's recruiting prediction machine, the Fighting Irish have an 18.8% chance of securing his commitment.

Nick Reddish is not the only top-tier talent on Notre Dame's radar for the 2026 class. The Fighting Irish are also targeting linebackers Maurice Barnes, Charles Belser, Markel Dabney and Tai’Yon King, along with edge-rusher Trenton Henderson, cornerback Jordan Thomas and safety Jett Washington.