Elite edge rusher to give Notre Dame a second look this football season

One of the elite edge rushers in the 2027 class is set to return to Notre Dame this football season.

Chesterfield (Va.) Lloyd C. Bird four-star recruit Chris Whitehead will take an unofficial visit to the Fighting Irish for the USC game on Oct. 18, his father told Rivals vice president of recruiting Steve Wiltfong. Blue & Gold can also confirm that the No. 25 overall player in 2027 will be back in South Bend during college football’s Week 8.

“(He) is very excited about meeting Coach (Marcus) Freeman again, having another great conversation with him,” Whitehead’s father told Wiltfong.

Whitehead’s fall visit will mark his second trip to Notre Dame during the recruiting process. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder — ranked as the No. 1 player in Virginia and No. 5 EDGE nationally — first checked out the Irish during spring practice on April 5. That visit occurred less than three weeks after he added an offer from Notre Dame on Pot of Gold Day. Following his first trip, he raved about the program’s culture in an interview with Blue & Gold.

“I felt trust and love from Coach Freeman,” Whitehead said. “I can tell he really cares about his players. … You can sense it on campus. After talking to Coach Freeman, I can see what he’s trying to do for his program and how he could develop me into the best version of myself.”

Landing Whitehead won’t be easy for Freeman. The junior prospect holds scholarship offers from 23 other Power Four programs, including Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, Miami, Tennessee and Texas A&M. The Buckeyes, Volunteers and Hurricanes will also host him for game day visits this season. His trip to Coral Gables will be his first, while his visits to Columbus and Knoxville will be return trips.

Whitehead is one of the most disruptive edge rushers in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) region. As a sophomore last season, he posted 30 solo tackles, 13 stops for loss and 11 sacks in eight games. He also added 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and an interception.

This summer, Whitehead participated in the Under Armour Future 50, an invite-only football camp featuring the nation’s top 2027 recruits. He is also committed to playing in the Polynesian Bowl.

An early look at the 2027 recruits visiting Notre Dame for the USC game on Oct. 18

This list is expected to grow exponentially by kickoff on Oct. 18. However, here is an early look at the other 2027 recruits with plans to visit Notre Dame for the USC game.

— St. Charles (Mo.) Francis Howell Central four-star tight end/edge rusher Jack Brown
— Rolesville (N.C.) High four-star defensive back Marquis Bryant 
— Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb four-star quarterback Teddy Jarrard (Notre Dame commit)
— Asheville (N.C.) Christian Academy long snapper Sean Kraft (2027 Notre Dame commit)
— McKeesport (Pa.) High four-star running back Kemon Spell (Penn State commit)
— La Verne (Calif.) Damien four-star safety Gavin Williams