It isn’t a hard sell to show running backs that they can do great things in Notre Dame’s offense and that was the case with Lathan Whisenton. He got on campus for Notre Dame’s Junior Day and gave the Irish his commitment shortly after.
An explosive athlete with elite speed, Whistenton has the potential to develop into another big play back for Notre Dame.
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 196
Projected Position: Running back
ISD Grade: 92 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 90.3 (4-star)
What he does best:
Whisenton is a legitimate threat to break off a long run any time he touches the football. He has big time speed and has run a 10.54 100m as well as a verified 4.45 40.
He displays good contact balance and has the strength to run through arm tackles. Although his running style can be a bit upright, he does a very good job of dropping his pads and is happy to truck a defender when necessary.
He has above average feet and can be more than just a pure home run hitter. He’s nimble enough and that combined with his power and patience can make him a very effective inside runner.
What he needs to improve:
His experience as a receiver is limited and that’s an area where he’ll have to grow during his time at Notre Dame. Physicality and willingness won’t be an issue in pass protection, but that’s an area where he has to gain more experience as well.
What’s his ceiling?
It’s easy to understand why Whisenton has scored 42 touchdowns during his sophomore and junior seasons just by watching a few plays from him. He has a rare combination of speed and lower body power that make him a big play waiting to happen.
He should arrive on campus at Notre Dame as someone ready to roll immediately as an athlete. He doesn’t have as much wiggle as some other runners they’ve targeted this cycle, but he’s in the highest tier with his speed and explosiveness (31.2 inch vertical, 9-10.9 broad jump).
I think he has a lot of similar traits to former North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton. He wasn’t dynamic in terms of making defenders miss, but his combination of speed and power helped make him an All-American for the Tar Heels.
Who he could be:
Former UNC RB Omarion Hampton
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