Offensive lineman Patrick O’Brien doesn't have an offer from Notre Dame yet. But if and when it comes, the 3-star prospect will be ready to celebrate. And, as he put it after a recent visit to South Bend, should it come, Marcus Freeman and his staff will rise right near the top of the schools he's considering.
“If Notre Dame offers me," O'Brien told Rivals' Kyle Kelly. "They’d definitely rise near the top.”
As Notre Dame continues to try and close out its 2027 class in the Top 5 for the second straight year, it's clear that Freeman and offensive line coach Joe Rudolph know that success starts up front. They've both got plenty of irons in the fire, but they're always looking for more talent under every nook and cranny.
Patrick O’Brien says Notre Dame would jump near the top with an offer
The offensive tackle is still under the radar a bit. O'Brien's only Power 4 offers are from teams like Northwestern, Purdue, Kentucky, and Virginia Tech. Generally, the Fighting Irish aren't battling at that level. However, O'Brien, out of Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, OH), has looked every bit the part of someone better than his current profile.
A recent offer from Michigan State shows that more Big Ten teams are taking notice. Those Big Ten teams are all from the surrounding region of Notre Dame. As the Irish had him in town earlier this spring, it appears that Rudolph is close to making a push
Should Notre Dame indeed make a run for Patrick O'Brien, it appears it'd have a real shot of landing him, even when entering the race late. That alone could be a big reason why it decides to get involved in the next few weeks.