Notre Dame’s newest linebacker target is already feeling the pull.
Julian Bruno, a 2028 prospect from Grant Union High School in Sacramento, said the Fighting Irish offer landed with real force after a long conversation with new linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary. Bruno said the first thing he did after hearing the news was head straight to his father’s room and share it.
“My reaction was excitement,” Bruno told Irish Sports Daily not long after receiving the offer. “I was extremely happy and the first thing I did was go to my dad's room and tell him the news.”
Bruno said Jean-Mary liked what he saw on film and wants to get the California linebacker to South Bend soon so he can see the campus for himself. The relationship is still young, but Bruno already feels like Notre Dame has made a strong impression.
“I haven't met the entire staff yet, but Coach BJ, Tre Reader and Tim Brown Jr. have made me feel welcome since June 15 when they could start contacting me,” Bruno said. “They've been checking in with me regularly, which has meant a lot to me.”
Bruno’s own announcement on July 3, 2026, reflected the buzz around the offer. He called it his 22nd Division I offer and thanked Notre Dame and Jean-Mary for the opportunity.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound linebacker is ranked by Rivals Industry Rankings as the No. 558 player in the 2028 class, the No. 43 linebacker and the No. 57 player in California. His offer list already stretches well beyond Notre Dame, with Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, California, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Sacramento State, San Diego State, San Jose State, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, UCLA, UNLV, USC, UTSA, Washington and Washington State among the schools that have jumped in.
For now, the next move is simple: keep building the connection and get to campus.
“The next step is to keep building my relationship with the coaching staff and make it out to a game this fall,” Bruno said.
He also knows what he wants to learn when that visit happens.
“One thing I'd like to learn more about is how they plan to use me in their defensive system and how they see me contributing to the defense,” Bruno said.
That trip could matter. Notre Dame’s linebacker track record under Marcus Freeman gives the Irish a natural selling point, and Bruno’s recruitment is still in the early stages. But the early signs are clear: this one already feels personal.
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