There's a new Notre Dame recruiting target to keep a close eye on – A diamond in the rough quickly grabbing a lot of attention

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There is a brand new 2027 linebacker target to know for Notre Dame. He could be an interesting developmental prospect to pursue.

Notre Dame football just hosted a long list of impressive 2027 and 2028 recruiting targets for the Blue-Gold Game last weekend. While the fanbase was focused on the top targets we know, head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish also hosted a couple of newer names to know. That includes 2027 Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek linebacker JT Austin.

When it comes to raw tools and overall upside, Austin is an intriguing athlete who offers a ton of upside. While he could play EDGE on the next level to a degree, it appears that Notre Dame views him as a linebacker on the next level. It was linebacker coach Brian Jean-Mary who extended the offer to the Georgia standout.

The linebacker board is a bit of a jumbled mess for Notre Dame right now, outside of having a commitment from Amarii Irvin. When Jean-Mary took over, he almost needed to start from square one. It will be interesting to see if Austin will be a part of the push moving forward, or if he is just a talented athlete who can help to strengthen a room.

From a raw athleticism perspective, the intrigue around Austin is extremely interesting. He feels like an underrated ball of clay that a coaching staff values, and eventually turns into a stud on the college level.

JT Austin’s recruiting background 

The recruiting profile for Austin right now is pretty bizarre. He hasn’t currently been ranked by any of the major recruiting platforms, although Austin has gotten a ton of attention from some heavy hitters in college football. It feels like it won’t be long until those rankings come. 

Outside of this recent Notre Dame offer, Austin now has upwards of 30 total scholarship offers. Some of the top programs that have offered include the Fighting Irish, Miami, Florida State, Cincinnati, and Purdue, among a long list of others. 

As a junior in 2025, Austin put together a tremendous season for an outstanding Sandy Creek squad. In 14 games, the 6-2, 210-pound defender collected 87 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 16 sacks. Austin also had 13 more quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three pass breakups. 

Blessed with a unique combination of explosiveness and closing speed, Austin plays mostly on the edge for Sandy Creek. He has an intriguing skill set to get after the quarterback, offering some impressive versatility for a defense. Just how comfortable Austin is on the second level will determine what caliber of versatile linebacker he could become on the next level.

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