Rising DL Joseph Reiff ‘over the moon’ about Notre Dame offer according to coach
Joseph Reiff broke character when he reacted to his Notre Dame scholarship offer. Or at least the 2025 defensive lineman from Elmhurst (Ill.) York Community High did when he shared the news with his head coach, Mike Fitzgerald.
“It has all happened pretty fast,” Fitzgerald told Blue & Gold. “He’s a very humble kid and very appreciative of all these things. He’s been blown away by all these offers and how this is all happening so fast. And I think the same thing for Notre Dame.
“Obviously, everyone knows the prestige of Notre Dame. And when you say Notre Dame football, it’s a brand name. I think he was definitely over the moon about that one and excited. (Notre Dame) has a great academic reputation. Academics are important to him and being set up for life.
“I think he was really excited about that one.”
Less than three months ago, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Reiff was a little-known high school football prospect with zero scholarship offers. Then, Iowa offered him a full-ride scholarship on May 18, and his college recruitment began.
Reiff’s summer kicked off with a camp in Iowa City on June 4. He then participated in camps at Northwestern, Purdue and Illinois. The Boilermakers did not offer him directly after camp, but they did extend one four days later. The Illini still have yet to offer, and his one from Northwestern didn’t come until late last month.
The Wildcats actually offered two days after Notre Dame. Unlike Northwestern and Purdue, Irish head coach Marcus Freeman and defensive line coach Al Washington gave Reiff one on the spot following his performance in the program’s Evaluation Camp II on June 20. Since then, Louisville has also offered.
On Sunday, he will return to Notre Dame for a closer look at the campus. It will be his introduction to what it is like to be a student-athlete.
“He’s just starting to get to know and learn about the schools,” Fitzgerald said. “Figuring out questions he needs to ask and what’s important to him. I think that’s always hard as a 16-year-old kid. To be forward-thinking about those other things. Besides just playing football.”
Reiff does not yet hold an On3 or On3 Industry Ranking. However, one primary recruiting media service considers him a three-star recruit (88) rating, the No. 34 defensive lineman and No. 10 prospect in Illinois.
Background on Reiff’s football experience
Fitzgerald first caught wind of Reiff when he was in eighth grade. The standout middle schooler had to choose between attending York Community High or a local private school.
Thanks to the genetics of his father, a former Northwestern football player, Reiff’s size and measurables were immediately incomparable to other kids his age. And his character was his too. Fitzgerald, who has coached football in the collegiate and prep ranks for about 20 years, figured he had something special. That ended up being the case.
But it took time.
Reiff spent his freshman season slowly growing into his body. He didn’t focus on becoming bigger and leaner. Fitzgerald said he did it the right way. And starting last season, the team began to reap the benefits.
As just a sophomore, Reiff started at defensive end for the state semifinal team in Illinois’ highest classification. His impact might not reflect fairly in the stat sheets, but his sacrifices to help his teammates succeed garnered respect among the coaching staff and in the locker room.
“We’re an odd-front defense, so we really ask a lot of our defensive ends,” Fitzgerald said. “To play head up on the tackles, inside the tackles. But really, they got to be able to hold their gaps to keep the linemen off our linebackers. So, there’s a lot of dirty work they have to do.
“When they’re uncovered, they have to spill the ball to the outside and be disciplined and fundamentally sound and physical. Obviously, when there’s a pass, they have to rush the passer as well.
“He’s great for that spot. He’s physically capable to play two gaps and to hold ground. It makes our linebackers’ life real easy in terms of getting a free shot at a running back or finding a lane to get through.”
And at this stage of his development, his position versatility is limitless.
“He’s an athletic kid for his size,” Fitzgerald said. “I think that’s really what these schools like about him. There is so much versatility to him, and his body is not done growing. They know he’s going to be a great player somewhere, and he has a lot of flexibility.
“Whether it’s a 3-technique with his hand in the ground or more of being a rush-end type guy. Some of that is still to be determined and depends on the defense the school runs as well.”
Since his Friday nights are sometimes spent buried in the trenches, Reiff’s coach is proud to sing his praises now that he can play on college football Saturdays.
“He has tremendous character,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s a super humble kid. He has worked for everything that has come his way. I know a big thing was putting on weight, and that’s what coaches want to see. He doesn’t miss a workout in the morning. He has a sandwich in his hand before practice.
“He’s very disciplined in how he goes about doing things. He’s a great teammate. A great kid, a hard worker. He’s the total package. Kids have measurables. But he’s got the measurables and character. I think the ceiling for him is off the charts, and that’s what these coaches are starting to see with him.”
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