Jadarian Price, alongside Notre Dame’s talented running back corps, gives the Irish a dynamic one-two punch in the backfield.

In college football, having a reliable and explosive running back is crucial to a team’s offensive success. For Notre Dame, the 2025 season is looking promising, thanks to the emergence of Jadarian Price, who has paired with an already talented running back corps to provide the Irish with a dynamic one-two punch in the backfield. This combination of power, speed, and versatility could be the key to taking the Notre Dame offense to new heights, as the Irish aim to contend for a College Football Playoff spot.

Price, who arrived at Notre Dame with high expectations, has exceeded those expectations during his time in South Bend. With his combination of vision, explosiveness, and balance, he has quickly made a name for himself as one of the most exciting running backs in the country. But it’s not just Price’s individual talent that makes him a key figure in the Irish offense—his partnership with Notre Dame’s existing running back talent has created a versatile and multi-dimensional attack that defenses are struggling to stop.

In this article, we will explore the rise of Jadarian Price, how he complements Notre Dame’s running back corps, and why this dynamic duo has the potential to make a significant impact in the 2025 season and beyond.

The Arrival of Jadarian Price: A Highly-Touted Freshman

When Jadarian Price committed to Notre Dame, he was widely regarded as one of the top running back recruits in the country. Coming out of Denham Springs High School in Louisiana, Price had everything you’d want in a running back: speed, agility, vision, and the ability to break tackles. His high school highlight reel was full of jaw-dropping runs, including long touchdown sprints, explosive cutbacks, and the ability to elude tacklers in the open field.

Price’s recruitment by Notre Dame was part of an ongoing effort by head coach Marcus Freeman to elevate the program’s offensive skill positions. Under Freeman’s leadership, Notre Dame has consistently been able to attract top-tier talent on both sides of the ball, and Price was no exception. Despite playing in a state known for producing top-notch football talent, Price’s decision to commit to Notre Dame was seen as a significant coup for the program.

From the moment he arrived on campus, Price was expected to be a key contributor to the Irish offense. However, the transition from high school to college football is never easy, even for the most talented players. The speed of the game, the complexity of offensive schemes, and the competition for playing time can be overwhelming for freshmen. But Price, to the surprise of many, made an immediate impact.

In his first season, Price showed flashes of the playmaking ability that had earned him so much attention in high school. Although he had to compete with other talented backs for playing time, Price’s ability to produce big plays on limited touches earned him a spot in the rotation. He quickly became known for his ability to break off long runs, his vision through the line of scrimmage, and his quick decision-making in the open field. As his confidence grew, so did his role in the offense.

By the end of his freshman year, Price had established himself as one of the most promising young running backs in college football. He had developed into a reliable and explosive weapon in the Irish backfield, showcasing the combination of skills that made him a highly sought-after recruit.

The Running Back Corps at Notre Dame: A Strong Foundation

While Jadarian Price is undoubtedly one of the most exciting running backs in Notre Dame’s history, he’s not alone in the backfield. Notre Dame’s running back corps has been one of the strengths of the team in recent years, and with Price added into the mix, the Irish now have one of the most dynamic and deep backfield units in the country.

Logan Diggs, Audric Estime, and Chris Tyree are all talented running backs who have contributed significantly to the Notre Dame offense in recent seasons. Together, this group of players provides the Irish with a versatile and well-rounded attack that can hurt defenses in a variety of ways.

Logan Diggs, a powerful and physical runner, is the perfect complement to Price’s explosive speed. Diggs is known for his ability to pick up tough yards between the tackles and for wearing down opposing defenses with his bruising style. His ability to pick up short-yardage gains and convert in critical situations has been invaluable to Notre Dame’s success. Diggs also has solid receiving skills, allowing the Irish to mix up their attack and keep defenses off balance.

Audric Estime is another key piece of the backfield puzzle for Notre Dame. Standing at 6’1” and weighing 230 pounds, Estime is a big, physical back who can handle a heavy workload. His combination of size and speed makes him a dangerous weapon in short-yardage situations and in the red zone. Estime is capable of running through arm tackles and making defenders miss with surprising agility for his size. His downhill running style and ability to churn out yardage after contact make him a valuable asset to the Irish offense.

Chris Tyree, a speedster with exceptional quickness and vision, provides a change of pace in the Notre Dame backfield. Tyree’s ability to break away for long runs makes him a dangerous threat on outside runs and sweeps. His speed in space allows him to take advantage of defensive lapses and turn short runs into explosive plays. Tyree’s skills as a pass-catcher out of the backfield also give Notre Dame the ability to stretch the field horizontally, creating mismatches for opposing defenses.

Together, this group of backs forms a formidable unit that can be used in a variety of ways. Whether it’s running between the tackles, breaking to the outside, or catching passes out of the backfield, the Irish have the tools to keep defenses guessing and exploit mismatches.

The Dynamic One-Two Punch: Price and Diggs/Estime

While Notre Dame’s backfield is deep and talented, the dynamic one-two punch in the backfield comes from the combination of Jadarian Price and either Logan Diggs or Audric Estime. This duo creates a balanced attack that can challenge any defense, as it blends speed, power, and versatility in a way that few college football teams can match.

Price brings explosive speed to the table. His ability to hit the edge and turn the corner is one of his most dangerous attributes, and defenses have struggled to keep up with him in the open field. His vision allows him to follow his blockers and identify cutback lanes, turning what might be a modest gain into a long touchdown run. Whether it’s on a quick hitter, a sweep to the outside, or a screen pass, Price has the ability to make defenders miss in the open field and rack up yardage in a hurry.

On the other hand, Logan Diggs and Audric Estime offer the complementary qualities that make this dynamic duo so effective. Diggs’s physicality and ability to wear down defenses between the tackles make him an ideal running back to pair with Price. When defenses are forced to focus on stopping Price’s speed on the outside, Diggs’s power running inside can soften up the defense and keep them on their heels.

Estime’s size and ability to run through tackles give Notre Dame an option for short-yardage situations and goal-line scenarios. His bruising style is a perfect counter to Price’s agility and speed, and his presence on the field forces defenses to account for a variety of running styles, making it even harder for them to key in on one back.

Together, the combination of Price’s explosive speed and either Diggs’s or Estime’s power running makes for a deadly one-two punch that keeps defenses guessing. Offensive coordinator Gerad Parker has the luxury of mixing and matching his running backs based on the situation, which makes it nearly impossible for opposing defensive coordinators to game plan effectively.

How Price’s Dynamic Ability Elevates Notre Dame’s Offense

Jadarian Price’s ability to make big plays and stretch the field is more than just an asset for the running game—it is a game-changer for the entire Notre Dame offense. With a running back who can consistently break off long runs and create big-play opportunities, the Irish offense becomes more dangerous and unpredictable. This ability to hit home runs opens up opportunities in the passing game as well.

When defenses have to respect Price’s speed, it opens up play-action opportunities for Notre Dame’s quarterbacks. The threat of Price taking it to the house on any given run forces defenses to commit more resources to stopping the run, which can create mismatches in the passing game. This could be especially beneficial for the Irish, as they look to develop their passing attack under quarterback Riley Leonard.

Additionally, Price’s ability as a pass-catcher out of the backfield provides an extra layer of versatility. He is a reliable target for quick screens and swing passes, and his ability to turn those passes into long gains makes him a valuable asset in the short-to-intermediate passing game. When the Irish can utilize both the ground game and the passing game effectively, they become a much more balanced and dangerous offense.

The Future of Notre Dame’s Running Back Room

Looking ahead, the running back position at Notre Dame is in excellent hands. With Jadarian Price, Logan Diggs, Audric Estime, and Chris Tyree, the Irish have one of the most talented and deepest backfields in college football. As the 2025 season progresses, this group will be pivotal in the team’s quest for a national championship. The dynamic one-two punch of Price and his fellow running backs offers Notre Dame an array of options to attack defenses and control the game on the ground.

For Jadarian Price, this is just the beginning of what promises to be a stellar career. As he continues to develop and mature, his already impressive skill set will only improve, making him one of the most dangerous running backs in college football. With a talented supporting cast and a system that plays to his strengths, Price is poised to make a lasting impact at Notre Dame for years to come.

As the Irish take to the field in 2025, their running back corps will be a key factor in their success. With Jadarian Price leading the charge, Notre Dame is well-equipped to take on any challenge that comes their way, and the dynamic one-two punch at running back will be a key part of that journey.