Notre Dame football just got a whole lot faster as the 2027 recruiting class avalanche officially begins
Notre Dame gained a massive commitment from 2027 running back Lathan Whisenton.
Notre Dame football just put together a tremendous recruiting event this past weekend, which included a long list of top targets from the 2027 and 2028 classes. The vibes have been extremely high for head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish coming out, and the results started to come on Wednesday night.
Notre Dame received their first piece of great news from the event when 2027 Waco (Texas) Midway running back Lathan Whisenton committed to the Irish. The Texas star chose Notre Dame over Florida and Texas Tech, among many others.
An extremely talented runner, Whisenton has also posted personal best times of 10.51 seconds in the 100-meter dash in track and field. That is a time faster than the former Irish great Jeremiyah Love, showcasing the speed that he brings to the table. Beating out a long list of elite suitors for a talent like Whisenton is no small feat.
After running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider was able to land Javian Osborne and Jonaz Walton in the 2026 recruiting class, the fanbase has just been waiting for Seider to flex his recruiting muscles in this 2027 cycle. There was a lot of great momentum with the running back board this past weekend, which included Whisenton, who made the trip to South Bend. This is just the first step for an impending recruiting avalanche.
Buckle up, folks. The Notre Dame 2027 class is about to make a statement with their quest toward another elite group under Freeman and Co.
Lathan Whisenton’s recruiting background
Depending on which major recruiting platform you frequent, Whisenton is viewed as a three-star player by some, and a four-star by others. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, the Texas star currently ranks as the No. 299 overall player, the No. 19 running back, and the No. 43 in the state of Texas for the 2027 recruiting class. The Rivals ranking has Whisenton pegged as the No. 171 overall player in the class.
Despite those inconsistent rankings, Whisenton has a healthy offer list currently. Some of the top programs that have offered him include the Fighting Irish, Texas, Michigan, LSU, Oregon, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida State, Texas Tech, Missouri, TCU, Baylor, Houston, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, SMU, Northwestern, and Cal, among others.
As a junior in 2025, Whisenton put together a fantastic season. In 11 games played, the 5-11, 195-pound runner managed to rush for 1,502 yards and 24 touchdowns on 165 carries, an average of 9.1 yards per carry. Whisenton also hauled in an additional 10 receptions for 102 yards, while also contributing as a kick returner for Waco Midway.