Julius Jones might still be considered a Notre Dame football lean, but the Fighting Irish know they're going to need to hold onto him after several spring visits to win the recruiting battle once and for all.
Last week, the Blue Chip wide receiver (whose father played his college ball in South Bend) announced several official visits. Analysts believe that once he takes these visits, he'll be able to pull the trigger on a commitment.
Things are moving fast for Julius Jones. Less than two weeks ago, the 4-star wide receiver released a list of his final eight schools, with Notre Dame among them. Despite seven other schools still in the picture, the Irish are holding steady as one of the favorites. Oregon might be Marcus Freeman's biggest hurdle, as Jones has scheduled a visit in the spring in Eugene.
Notre Dame football remains a leading contender for wide receiver Julius Jones
Jones is the No. 11 wide receiver and No. 58 player overall in the 2027 class, per 247 Sports Composite. Coming out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 247Sports also has Jones ranked as the No. 7 player in the state.
Along with Notre Dame and Oregon, the young legacy prospect for the Irish ranked Michigan, LSU, Florida, Florida State, Texas, and Miami in his final eight schools.
The receiver's father, Julius Jones Sr., made his name as a running back for the Irish and then in the NFL with over 5,000 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns with the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, and New Orleans Saints.
For both Oregon and Notre Dame, the 4-star pass catcher will take unofficial visits first and then official visits later in the spring. He'll kick off April with a visit to the Ducks on April 4, then head to South Bend the following weekend on April 11. The order of his official visits is the same as the Ducks on June 5 and the Irish on June 12.