Julius Jones Jr. | WR | St. Thomas Aquinas | Notre Dame Commit

Growing up with an NFL father and an uncle who rushed for more than 10,000 career yards will shape a young football player in ways most never experience. For Julius Jones Jr., those early workouts—running drills with his brother like NFL players while other kids were still learning the basics—laid a foundation that is now showing up in the record books at St. Thomas Aquinas.

The wide receiver recently became the Raiders' all-time leader in receiving yards, surpassing a record he has been chasing with quiet intensity. He's within reach of several more. His coach describes him as a competitive warrior with a work ethic that sets the standard for those around him—including his younger brother Andre, a 2028 prospect who is also committed to Notre Dame.

Jones originally arrived at St. Thomas Aquinas expecting to play safety. His pop warner coach had other ideas, keeping him on offense, and the decision has paid off. He's developed into a versatile receiver who can line up outside or in the slot, and he's equally willing to run down on kickoff coverage—a detail his coach points to as a window into his character. Twelve special teams tackles as a freshman wasn't a fluke; it's how he's wired.

His commitment to Notre Dame carries obvious weight given his family history—Julius Jones Sr. was a standout for the Irish before spending seven seasons in the NFL—but the younger Jones is clear-eyed about what he wants his time in South Bend to mean. He's not going there to honor a legacy. He's going there to build one.

Off the field, Jones has his eyes on orthodontics once his playing days are done. He talks about the joy of making people smile with the same sincerity he brings to blocking on special teams. His coach puts it plainly: don't mistake the kindness for softness.