Notre Dame football is on the brink of putting together an elite 2027 recruiting class. One of the most important remaining targets on the target board includes elite Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas star wide receiver Julius Jones Jr., who is a legacy recruit for the program. Head coach Marcus Freeman, wide receivers coach Mike Brown, and the Fighting Irish have been prioritizing Jones for a long time, and very much want him to be a part of the class.

With Jones set to return to South Bend on June 11-13 for an official visit, Notre Dame is considered to be the heavy favorite for the dynamic pass catcher. He did make a stop in Miami this past weekend for his official visit with the Hurricanes. They are widely considered to be a top-three school for Junes, so there was a lot on the line.

Where do things stand with Jones following that visit? Here is the latest in this recruitment.

The latest with Jones and Notre Dame

Did Miami do a solid job this weekend? Yes, head coach Mario Cristobal is a dynamite recruiter, so that shouldn’t be that surprising. Leaving the weekend, however, I still believe that they are running third for Jones. Oregon remains the biggest remaining hurdle for the Fighting Irish, and I don’t see that changing.

While the Ducks have done a really good job in this recruitment, Notre Dame is still firmly the team to beat going towards Jones’ commitment date on June 27. The Irish staff has done a stellar job in this recruitment. It would now be considered a major upset if Jones doesn’t land in South Bend.

Julius Jones Jr.’s recruiting background

Jones is considered an outstanding recruit by the 247Sports Composite ranking. He sits as the No. 72 overall player, the No. 12 wide receiver, and the No. 8 player in the state of Florida for the 2027 recruiting class. We are talking about a potentially elite player from a hotbed of talent, and a legacy player to make things even better.

Even at a young age, Jones has attracted the attention of some outstanding programs. That has only increased after a stellar junior year. Some of his top offers so far include the Fighting Irish, LSU, Ole Miss, Miami, Florida, Penn State, Texas A&M, Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida State, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Washington, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Colorado, NC State, UCLA, Syracuse, and Purdue, among many others.

On an extremely talented and deep St. Thomas Aquinas team, Jones became the top option at a younger age. In 13 games as a sophomore in 2024, Jones hauled in 51 receptions for 750 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged an impressive 14.7 yards per catch despite playing against some of the best competition in the entire country.

In 14 games this past season, the junior hauled in 58 receptions for 876 yards and 14 touchdowns. The 5-11, 175-pound pass catcher led the team in each category, and by a wide margin. Jones had also increased his yards per catch average to 15.1, showing the ability to create a ton of big plays.