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Newsstand: Notre Dame offers elite 2027 EDGE from Mississippi

Kyle Kellyby: Kyle Kelly07/21/25ByKyleKelly
Al Washington
Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington. (Chad Weaver/Blue & Gold)

The Notre Dame football program has another Magnolia State defensive lineman on its radar.

On Saturday, Brookhaven (Miss.) High four-star EDGE Derwin Fields, a class of 2027 recruit, announced a scholarship offer from the Fighting Irish. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Fields is one of the top players in the 2027 cycle, ranking as the No. 9 EDGE and No. 71 overall player nationally, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.

Fields, the No. 3 player in Mississippi, is one of four defensive linemen in his class with a Notre Dame offer. He joins Poplarville (Miss.) High’s Sam LeJeune, Ackerman (Miss.) Choctaw County’s Ben’Jarvius Shumaker and Hattiesburg (Miss.) Oak Grove’s Deven Robertson. All received their offers from Notre Dame on Pot of Gold Day, March 17.

Shumaker, LeJeune and Robertson rank as the Nos. 6, 9 and 35 defensive linemen nationally and the Nos. 4, 5 and 10 players in the state, respectively. LeJeune and Robertson have both visited Notre Dame twice. The Irish are especially well-positioned for Robertson, whom Blue & Gold on Friday predicted to commit to Marcus Freeman’s program.

In the Rivals recruiting era, which dates back to 2002, Southaven (Miss.) High cornerback Caleb Offord — a member of the 2020 class — is the only Magnolia State recruit to sign with Notre Dame. He transferred out after two seasons and has since played for Buffalo and Alabama State. Offord will play his final season at Kennesaw State.

Fields holds offers from Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Southern Cal. During his 2024 sophomore season, he posted 61 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.

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“Well, you want them to really be the best version of themselves. Play within the offense and the scheme of what we ask them to do. Take care of the football. Make good decisions. And have answers.” 

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