Notre Dame has long been happy to wear the “Tight End U” label, but the case for a different nickname is getting harder to ignore. If the Irish want to start pushing “Safety U” into the conversation, Luke Talich just gave them a perfect talking point.
Back from a one-game absence because of injury, Talich came right back into the lineup against North Carolina and made his presence felt. He finished with three tackles and a first-quarter interception, and that outing was enough to earn him the top grade among all safeties in Week 5 from Pro Football Focus.
PFF gave Talich an 89.5 overall grade, which tied him for the best mark at the position in the country that week and stood as Notre Dame’s highest defensive grade by a comfortable margin. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa was next for the Irish defense at 80.3 overall, while Talich shared that 89.5 mark with Northwestern’s Robert Fitzgerald and Air Force’s Max Mustell.
The production wasn’t a one-off, either. Through 2026, Talich has been one of the country’s most efficient safeties, ranking third nationally among players at the position with at least 100 snaps. His 89.7 overall PFF rating trails only Baylor’s Micah Gifford, who sits at 90.3, and LSU’s Tamarcus Cooley at 90.1.
Of course, Talich alone doesn’t make the argument for Notre Dame as Safety U. The depth chart and the recent pipeline are what really do the work. Talich wouldn’t even be starting if Brauntae Johnson hadn’t gone down with an injury in the first game of the season.
Johnson arrived in 2026 with plenty of buzz, with some analysts even viewing him as a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft if he declares for the pros this winter. He stepped into the role left behind by Xavier Watts, who is off to a strong start in the NFL after looking like a steal of the 2025 NFL Draft with a standout rookie season last year.
Then there’s the list of former Irish safeties already making noise at the next level. Kyle Hamilton, now with the Baltimore Ravens, played at Notre Dame from 2019 to 2021. Julian Love, who was in South Bend from 2016 to 2018, has become one of the best players in the league at his position as well.
And the current group keeps adding to the argument. Adon Shuler has locked down the strong safety spot and has earned his share of attention as a player offenses need to steer clear of. When Johnson and Talich were out in Week 4, true freshman Joey O’Brien got his first start against Purdue and made the most of it with five tackles and a sack.
Put it all together - the past, the present, and the next wave - and Notre Dame’s claim at safety starts looking awfully strong. It’s not the most common nickname in college football, but the Irish might have a real shot at making “Safety U” stick.
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Penn States Big Ten Collapse Became A Warning Wisconsin Fans Know
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