Irish secure dynamic running back Lathan Whisenton, adding explosive talent and a perfect scheme fit to the 2027 class.
Notre Dame has landed a talented player to its 2027 class by landing a commitment from running back Lathan Whisenton. The Waco, Texas/Midway standout picked Notre Dame over Texas, Florida, Texas Tech and several other big time programs.
Let's take a look at what landing Whisenton means for the Irish program and the 2027 class.
NOTRE DAME CLASS IMPACT
Whisenton is the eighth player to commit to Notre Dame in the 2027 class. He is the third offensive player and first running back to commit to the Irish in this class.
Notre Dame has loaded up at running back in recent seasons, landing talented four-star running back Nolan James Jr. in the 2025 class and a pair of very talented backs in the 2026 class. Both Javian Osborne and Jonaz Walton were Top 100 players on the Irish Breakdown board. Landing three players of this caliber in two classes meant that numbers wasn't necessarily the need in the 2027 class, with impact talent being the biggest need.
Notre Dame could shoot for a second back in the class due to potential departures over the next couple of seasons. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if they did, but the primary objective was landing at least one high level runner. Landing Whisenton does just that, giving Notre Dame another big time talent that grades out as a Top 100 back on the IB board.
Dipping into Texas for yet another talented skill player is also a win for this class.
NOTRE DAME FIT
The Notre Dame run game has been built around Midzone, Inside Zone/Duo and a Counter play that is a tight A-gap run that looks a lot like Power with backside blocking. It's a downhill run game that looks to do damage primarily between the tackles. That's exactly where Whisenton does his best work. He's a great downhill runner that shows all the tools need to thrive in the Irish scheme, and he's a home run hitter to boot. Notre Dame likes to throw the ball to its backs, but Whisenton doesn't have a lot of work in that area. He does show the traits needed to catch the ball and his power should allow him to develop into a stout pass blocker. He is a great fit for the Notre Dame offense, there's no doubt about that.
FILM ROOM
Whisenton has the body you want in an every down back, especially one that can thrive in the specifics of the Notre Dame offense. He has good height for a running back, listed at 5-11, but he appears to be even taller. Whisenton has a stout lower body, and he is a bit low cut, which makes defenders have to go even lower to get a good shot on him. The Midway standout has an athletic, well defined upper body and he has the frame to be a every down back in the Irish offense.
It's one thing to have a great running back frame, but what's more important is knowing how to use it, and Whisenton certainly does that. Whisenton hunts contact, he wants the smoke, and he would rather run through a defender than around him or to leap over him. His leg drive is elite, as is his contact balance, and these two traits make him a punishing runner that racks up a lot of yards after contact. This part of his game will translate extremely well to the next level.
Whisenton runs with power, but I wouldn't call him a pure power back. He's a patient runner with excellent vision. His high school offense asks him to let blocks develop and then attack vertically. He'll be asked to be a bit more urgent getting downhill at times in the Irish offense, but when running Midzone and the Counter runs this trait will be a major asset. His ability to anticipate and read second level defenders is top notch and adds to his big time talent.
The Midway star has a rare combination of power and speed. He ran a career-best 10.54 in February at the Colt Relays, which matches the career best that Jeremiyah Love had in high school, but Love didn't reach that mark until his senior season. That track speed shows up on the football field, and Whisenton is a big play waiting to happen every time he touches the ball. You see him use that speed to crease the defense for big plays, he can get to the outside and his ability to bounce off tackles and accelerate is outstanding. Notre Dame wants its offense to be a big play unit, and Whisenton has those tools.
We don't see Whisenton catch the football much, but in the limited opportunities he shows good hands and the ability to make plays after the catch. His combination of power and toughness should allow him to develop into a strong pass blocker at the next level.
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