Notre Dame’s recruiting weekend got a boost before Miami even arrived.
On Wednesday, the Fighting Irish picked up a surprise commitment from James Criniti, a 2027 safety from Saint Joseph in Indiana who had been committed to Central Michigan. The local prospect is now headed to South Bend, where he’ll have the chance to stay home and walk on at Marcus Freeman’s program.
Criniti has spent plenty of time around Notre Dame already, visiting for games and camps over the past few years. Now the school he’s been circling gets him in the class.
“After much thought and prayer, I have decided to decommit from Central Michigan University,” Criniti said in a social media statement. “I am incredibly grateful to Coach Drinkall, Coach Fleming, and the entire Central Michigan staff for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to continue my football career.”
A 3-star defensive back, Criniti is listed at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds. He committed to Central Michigan on June 17, 2026, shortly after taking an official visit to Mount Pleasant earlier that month.
His junior season at Saint Joseph in 2025 showed just how much he can do. Criniti piled up 108 tackles and eight interceptions while helping the Huskies win an Indiana Class 4A regional championship. That interception total tied him for sixth in Indiana and led the Northern Indiana Conference.
He wasn’t just making plays on defense, either. MaxPreps credits him with 44 catches for 610 yards and seven touchdowns, plus 21 carries for 134 yards and three rushing scores. He also added 268 punt-return yards and 25 kickoff-return yards.
This fall, Criniti has kept filling up the stat sheet. Through 10 games, he has 13 receptions for 317 yards and three touchdowns, good for 24.4 yards per catch. He’s also rushed five times for 34 yards and a touchdown, while adding 66 punt-return yards.
Defensively, he has three interceptions for 37 return yards, which ties him for the Northern Indiana Conference lead. One of his best outings came against South Bend Riley on October 2, when he finished with 12 tackles, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble in a 28-6 win.
Criniti’s only other FBS offers came from Army and Central Michigan. After first choosing the Chippewas, he found a way to land even closer to home at Notre Dame, the school he had always hoped to play for. It’s a tidy, feel-good start to a huge week for the Irish.
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