JT Austin’s first visit to Notre Dame turned into more than just a trip to campus.
The 2027 Georgia linebacker left South Bend with an offer from the Irish following Saturday’s Blue-Gold Game, adding another major option to a growing list.
“It went great,” Austin told Irish Sports Daily. “It was a beautiful visit. Campus is nice. They’ve got a good vision for me. I love it.”
The Sandy Creek High School standout spent time with linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary before the game and came away with a clear understanding of how he would fit within the Irish defense.
“A lot of schools got me at edge,” he said. “But in their system, I can pass rush, I can also drop. It’s very good. I love it.”
That versatility stood out. Notre Dame’s plan would allow the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder to operate in multiple roles within its three-linebacker structure, something that aligns with how he views his game at the next level.
The experience inside Notre Dame Stadium added to the impression.
“Getting inside the stadium, that was a real moment,” he said. “To see the turnout for a spring game, the fan interaction, everything like that was amazing.”
The Tyrone, Ga., native also pointed to the culture surrounding the program as a key takeaway, noting the presence of former players and the connection between alumni and the current team.
“When alumni come back, that speaks volumes,” he said.
That culture extended to the coaching staff as well.
“Me and Coach BJ have a great relationship,” he said. “Everybody was very open and friendly.”
Austin has already set official visits to UNLV, Cincinnati and Appalachian State, but Notre Dame has quickly positioned itself as a school he wants to get back to for another look.
“It means a lot,” he said of the offer. “Definitely an option and I definitely want to get on my OV soon.”
The Irish will be out to Sandy Creek in the coming weeks to discuss more details about a potential official, so for now his recruitment will center on continuing to build bonds and evaluating which program offers the best combination of development and culture moving forward.
“I'm big on relationships,” he said. “So just who I built a good relationship with, who wants to just build me out not just as a player, but as a man. I know everybody says that, but just being able to set you up outside of what we can do for each other in football.
“Relationships are great and rich culture and rich history. Again, when alumni come back, that lets me know something, like a place I can stay around, call home and everything like that. So that's what I'm looking for in a school.”
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