Things heating up quickly between Notre Dame and top recruiting target they are trying to pluck away from fellow Northern power
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Things have been heating up quickly between Notre Dame football and 2026 McDonald (Pa.) Fort Cherry four-star safety target Matt Sieg. While Sieg is still technically committed to the Penn State Nittany Lions, that feels like a formality at this point. Ever since head coach James Franklin was fired by Penn State several weeks ago, the Pennsylvania native has been keeping his eyes open for other opportunities. The Irish, along with others such as Pittsburgh and Indiana, have been a couple of the schools to know.
Sieg visited South Bend several weeks ago when head coach Marcus Freeman’s squad took on Navy, and the vibes were strong coming out of that trip. Even with an elite secondary class in the 2026 group, Sieg is still a player that Notre Dame has decided to push hard for. In a somewhat surprising trip, Sieg is now back in South Bend for an official visit, which has been reported by a couple of other outlets. He arrived on Sunday, and Sieg is scheduled to leave sometime Tuesday evening.
It is early, but the initial Intel is very promising. With only a few weeks left until National Signing Day, Notre Dame’s chances are growing quickly. I like the Fighting Irish in the end if they continue to push this hard. Sieg is a tremendous football player who has some of the best versatility in the entire 2026 defensive back class nationally.
Matt Sieg recruiting background
Right now, Sieg is considered to be a four-star player by both ESPN and 247 Sports, while On3 rates him as a three-star player, for whatever reason. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Sieg sits as the No. 180 overall player, the No. 16 safety, and the No. 5 player in the state of Pennsylvania for the 2026 recruiting class. Pennsylvania is a state that the Irish staff has been exploring in this class so far, and hopes to do so one more time.
Outside of the Nittany Lions and Fighting Irish, Sieg has been pursued by a long list of impressive programs during his recruitment. Some of his other top offers include Alabama, USC, Nebraska, Missouri, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Rutgers, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Stanford, Syracuse, and Purdue, among others.
As a senior so far in 2025, Sieg is putting together a tremendous season on both sides of the football. On top of his work on defense, the 6-0, 190-pound athlete has also been dynamic for his offense. Sieg has been an outstanding running back and quarterback throughout his career, having rushed for 5,295 yards and 90 touchdowns coming into the year.
Sieg has also thrown for 3,176 yards and 39 touchdowns as a talented dual-threat quarterback for the team. Fort Cherry has also utilized him as a return man and a stellar defensive player. His versatility should allow him to become a defensive weapon on the next level. There are several positions Sieg could make an impact while playing.
This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Nov 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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