Jaxon Dollar is set to return to Notre Dame this weekend as one of the more dynamic prospects in the country is working through a busy spring visit schedule.
The 2027 North Carolina tight end will be in South Bend on March 21 as the Irish look to maintain early positioning in a national recruitment.
The 6-foot-5, 222-pounder holds offers from Notre Dame, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, Miami, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Clemson, North Carolina, NC State and Stanford among others.
Dollar has been to Notre Dame multiple times already, but this visit presents a different opportunity as he looks to spend more time around the program.
“Definitely the coaching staff and the culture,” Dollar said of what he’s hoping to see more of.
That culture has stood out as one of the defining traits of the program.
“Everybody’s always fighting for each other,” Dollar said. “No one’s getting left behind. Everybody’s together at all times.”
The relationship with assistant tight ends coach Harris Bivin has been central in keeping Notre Dame firmly in the mix.
“He’s a family guy,” Dollar said. “He’s always checking in on everybody in my family.”
This visit will give Dollar his first extended opportunity to evaluate how he would fit in offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s system.
“I want to see how they would use me in their offense,” Dollar said. “Move me around, put me in motion, split me out and use my athleticism.”
Dollar is in the middle of a packed spring travel schedule that includes stops at Clemson, Missouri, LSU, Florida, Miami, Oregon, Ohio State, Kansas State, Texas, Texas A&M and Georgia as he works toward narrowing his list.
The goal over the coming weeks is to trim that group down significantly before moving into the next phase of his recruitment.
“Probably be able to shorten my list from about 10 to four,” Dollar said of the goal of these trips.
“Getting to know how all these schools are going to use me and seeing the coaches in person.”
That process will lead into official visits before a decision which Dollar expects to make during the summer.
As Dollar continues evaluating his options, the long-term trajectory of each program will play a major role in his decision. The opportunity to win will matter greatly when Dollar starts putting his final list together.
“The schools that have an opportunity to go to the national championship and keep doing that year after year,” he said of who’s likely to make the final cut.
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