The Michigan soccer workforce is in good standing with various 2026 recruits, and certainly one of its prime targets is four-star athlete Joey O’Brien. O’Brien is a top-50 prospect, and he lately narrowed his listing of school choices down to 6 faculties. The Wolverines made the minimize, and they’re joined by Notre Dame, Oregon, Tennessee, Clemson and Penn State.
Joey O’Brien is a four-star recruit based on 247Sports. He’s the #48 participant within the 2026 class, the #5 ATH and the #1 participant within the state of Pennsylvania. O’Brien at the moment attends La Salle School for highschool in Glenside, PA. Penn State will particularly be powerful competitors for Michigan right here due to its shut proximity to O’Brien.
“Lanky perimeter playmaker with the athleticism and ball abilities to make an affect wherever he traces up on the subsequent degree,” O’Brien’s scouting report reads. “Seen by some school coaches as a defensive again and others as a large receiver, however ceiling seems to be highest as a protection ace that may shade passing home windows and create takeaways, which he has performed time and time once more at marquee 7-on-7 occasions. Mature discipline consciousness and zone self-discipline continually reveals up on protection. Would possibly lack the specified foot velocity for an outdoor alignment on Saturdays, however can swallow up assignments with a body that’s pushing 6-foot-4 and can combat together with his palms positioning.”
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It is unclear what place O’Brien would play if he did come to the Michigan soccer program, however he has loads of potential in quite a few areas of the sport.
“Has additionally confirmed to be a prepared participant in run help regardless of being a bit slender,” the scouting report reads. “As a cross catcher, can rapidly flip the sector for an offense as he will get vertical and makes acrobatic grabs over opponents. Wants some seasoning as a route runner, however is an total easy mover with simple acceleration that may go up and assault the soccer. General, needs to be seen as one of many extra distinctive prospects within the 2026 cycle given the truth that he might match into quite a lot of completely different roles for a School Soccer Playoff contender. Lack of testing information yields an incomplete analysis, however can rock the rim on the hardwood and has persistently turned heads in best-on-best settings.”
Michigan hasn’t picked up a ton of 2026 commitments but, however Joey O’Brien is definitely a goal to look at.