Sam LeJeune

- 2026 defensive end McHale Blade returned for a multi-day visit over the weekend. The four-star prospect was able to see two practices and most importantly, get around the staff and players once again. It's a competitive situation right now as Notre Dame leads for several defensive linemen and Blade likely has the Irish out in front too. I do expect him to take a few visits to West Coast in the near future as Stanford and USC are coming hard after him. Notre Dame is trending into a strong position where they can be really picky on the edge and even at 3-tech, which is a spot Blade could grow into down the line. Zavion Griffin-Haynes, Dre Quinn and Elijah Golden all could very well have Notre Dame in the lead. - 2026 Junipero Serra (Calif.) defensive lineman Khary Wilder was a recent offer and he quickly got to campus. After the visit, I believe Notre Dame is a serious contender and there are few prospects his size who can move like Wilder. As mentioned before, Wilder's family is in education so academics play a big factor here. I expect Notre Dame to continue to push hard here. - 2027 Lloyd C. Bird (Va.) defensive end Chris Whitehead made his first trip to Notre Dame and I think the Irish left a lasting impression. It's going to be battle for Whitehead as he's going to be one of the nation's most coveted edge prospects, but I believe Notre Dame will be in this race moving forward. Whitehead also visited Michigan and Ohio State this week and left both schools with an offer. Notre Dame was thrilled with his film and even more thrilled to see his size in-person. - 2027 Poplarville (Miss.) defensive tackle Sam LeJeune also made the trip to South Bend for the first time over the weekend. Notre Dame loves his nasty streak and it's clear he's a large human being, which has been an emphasis for the last year on the interior of the defensive line. This will be one to watch down the line.New Era Navy Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9SEVENTY Stretch-Snap Adjustable Hat