Notre Dame football reportedly losing recruiting staffer Sandlin

Notre Dame football took a hit in recruiting on Monday, but it didn’t come from a high school prospect.

Footballscoop.com reported Irish recruiting staffer JR Sandlin had accepted a position as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Jacksonville State.

Sandlin, officially titled as recruiting analyst at Notre Dame, joined the Irish last summer and helped boost the staff’s presence on social media and with recruiting mailings. Working with director of player personnel Dave Peloquin, Sandlin helped spawn the “Pot of Gold” mailing strategy that sent 270 letters to defensive tackle prospect Matt Elam to represent his area code, 477 letters to top recruits to represent Notre Dame’s total NFL Draft picks, and 127 letters to committed recruits to represent the 127th football season for Notre Dame in 2014.

Sandlin previously worked at Tennessee, Alabama and Central Florida. He played tight end at UCF from 2005-07.

Sandlin declined comment when reached by the Tribune on Monday night.