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Notre Dame dishes out offer to 2026 EDGE Garrett Witherington during visit

Singer headshotby:Mike Singer•04/07/24•

MikeTSinger

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2026 EDGE Garrett Witherington with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman during a visit April 6, 2024 (Photo provided)

Birmingham (Ala.) Briarwood Christian class of 2026 EDGE Garrett Witherington got his first look at Notre Dame Saturday, and the 6-5, 240-pounder received great news while one campus.

The rising junior from the Yellow Hammer State added an offer from the Fighting Irish.

“When I got the offer, I had an indescribable feeling,” Witherington said. “Coach [Marcus] Freeman mentioned it but Coach [Al] Washington told me [about the offer].”

Witherington learned a lot about Notre Dame, between touring around campus, watching practice and chatting with the coaching staff. A top highlight of Witherington’s visit was communicating with Freeman in particular. The whole staff made him feel very welcomed.

“One thing I noticed from being there was from the second I got there to when I left — I felt very cared about,” noted Witherington.

It’s early in Witherington’s recruiting process as a prospect, but it seems as if Notre Dame has set the bar high for him as far as a college experience goes.

“The visit was great,” Witherington stated. “I have never been to Notre Dame before. Not only the football facilities were nice but also the academic buildings.

“It was great meeting with every coach. They all had a similar message about Notre Dame setting me up once football is over.

“Notre Dame is definitely up there for me.”

Witherington’s visited coincided with an Irish spring practice, which was another highlight of the trip.

“Practice was great,” he said. “Something that stood out is the energy everyone had. Everyone was flying around from drill to drill.”

Witherington is hoping to visit Ole Miss and Mississippi State next, and he’s also planning on participating in an Under Armour All-America Camp.

He doesn’t have an On3 or On3 Industry Ranking yet, but Rivals ranks him as a three-star prospect and No. 17 player from Alabama.

Witherington’s recruitment is just getting going, armed with offers from UAB, Troy, California and Northern Arizona.

So far in the 2026 class, the Irish have offered around 20 prospects on the defensive line. And Notre Dame has offered a few other players from Alabama in the 2026 class thus far: Montgomery (Ala.) Pike Road running back Ja’Michael Jones, Huntsville (Ala.) Jemison EDGE Hezekiah Harris and Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul’s Episcopal EDGE Anthony Jones.

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