Notre Dame football emerging as a leader for a dynamic passing game weapon that every elite program wants

Notre Dame is among two schools separating itself for one of the best offensive weapons in the 2027 recruiting class.

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer
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Jaxon Dollar, 2027 tight end from East Lincoln High in Denver, N.C. in a receiver drill during the 2025 Dabo Swinney Football Camp in Clemson, S.C. Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

Notre Dame football has a long and proud tradition of developing the tight end position as well as any program. Head coach Marcus Freeman, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, and the Fighting Irish staff managed to just put together an outstanding two-man haul in the 2026 recruiting class with Ian Premer and Preston Fryzel. The program has now turned its attention to the 2027 class.

Among an extremely talented group of tight end targets in the 2027 class, Denver (N.C.) East Lincoln star Jaxon Dollar is arguably the top target on the board right now. There is no question that Notre Dame is extremely high on the North Carolina native, and he has reciprocated that interest, as well. He is a player that the Fighting Irish are pushing hard for amongst an elite group of suitors.

Steve Wiltfong from Rivals logged an expert prediction for Dollar to land with Notre Dame in the past. In a recent update, Wiltfong highlighted Dollar’s most recent recruiting process. It wasn’t shocking to see the Fighting Irish listed as one of the leaders for the talented tight end. According to Wiltfong, they are battling it out with Georgia right now, although more schools continue to push.

Here is what Wiltfong wrote.

4-star TE Jaxon Dollar

Notre Dame and Georgia have emerged as the leaders, but the pack behind is strong and can make a move. Dollar’s spring visits begin at Clemson on March 7 before heading to Missouri on March 13, out to Oregon on March 14, and back to Notre Dame on March 21.

Jaxon Dollar’s recruiting background

Dollar is considered to be a top-100 overall player by multiple of the major recruiting platforms. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Dollar currently ranks as the No. 57 overall player, the No. 3 tight end, and the No. 3 player from the state of North Carolina for the 2027 recruiting class. That is a state that is more and more regularly putting out high-level talent. Notre Dame has continued to take notice.

If Notre Dame does win out for Dollar, they would be doing so against an extremely impressive offer list. Some of the top programs that have offered Dollar include the Fighting Irish, Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Penn State, Florida, Florida State, Texas A&M, Miami, Auburn, Clemson, South Carolina, Missouri, NC State, UNC, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Arkansas, Boston College, Cincinnati, and Purdue, among others. 

As a junior, Dollar has been a dynamic pass game weapon for East Lincoln. The 6-5, 222-pound managed to haul in 54 receptions for 1,190 yards and 20 touchdowns in 12 games. That is an average of 22 yards per reception, an absurd number for a tight end at his size. On top of completing a 63-yard pass, Dollar has also recorded 38 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a blocked kick on defense. 

Calling Dollar an outstanding athlete is a massive understatement. This is an elite talent with unreal upside from the tight end position.

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