Notre Dame recruit proving to be an exciting answer for what would typically be a daunting challenge for the Fighting Irish
Notre Dame is set to lose a couple of really talented running backs this offseason. Luckily the Fighting Irish have some impressive replacements on the way.
Notre Dame fans are truly blessed to pop on the television each Saturday to watch the running back duo and Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price do some truly special things. Between those two, they have managed to rush for 800 yards and 13 touchdowns in five games. They have also hauled in an additional 15 receptions for 195 yards and four scores through the air as well. They are the engine driving Mike Denbrock’s Fighting Irish offense.
With Love being projected as a first round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Price also having a professional future, it is unlikely that either of the talented runners returns after this season concludes. While losing that pair is going to be difficult for head coach Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame staff to stomach, their ability to attract talented running backs does soften the blow. That includes the 2026 recruiting class, where the Irish hold commitments from two top-100 runners, Javian Osborne and Jonaz Walton.
2026 Forney (Texas) High School running back Javian Osborne has been putting the high school football world on notice so far in 2025, and it should have Irish fans excited for the Texas native to arrive in South Bend. So far this season, Osborne has exploded in the six games he has played. In total, he has rushed for 993 yards and 12 touchdowns on just 109 total carries.
That is an average of 9.1 yards per reception. Osborne has also hauled in another six receptions for 88 yards through the air. While he doesn’t get used a ton as a pass receiver right now, that skill set is certainly in his arsenal. It is just a lot easier to turn around and hand him the football.
Osborne’s career day
The 5-9, 195-pound runner got off to a fast start this season, but just put together his finest outing this past week against Royse City during the team’s 40 to 26 victory. Osborne exploded for 307 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries during the victory. That continues a season to remember for the Texas native, and will give Notre Dame fans a lot to be excited for when he enrolls officially in a few months.
During his three seasons prior to the 2025 season, Osborne had rushed for 4,522 yards and 72 rushing touchdowns. Along with Georgia standout Jonaz Walton, the two make up arguably the best running back class in the entire country. The great thing about that duo is that they are both very different football players. Walton is more of the explosive downhill runner, while Osborne is incredibly quick and shifty out in space. It should make for a great complement of styles.
For most teams, losing two talents like Love and Price in a single offseason would be debilitating. While it won’t be easy, this 2026 class will go a long way to softening the blow. Ja’Juan Seider’s group has a chance to be extremely good for the foreseeable future.
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Predicting the next three Notre Dame commitments for what could be an elite 2027 recruiting class in the end for the Irish
Notre Dame Football is off to a strong start in the 2027 recruiting class. That should continue moving forward.
