Jadarian Price 2026 NFL Draft: scouting report for Notre Dame, RB

How high should teams be targeting Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer

Feb 15, 2026 2:36 PM EST

Nov 29, 2025; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jadarian Price (24) runs with the football against Stanford Cardinal safety Darrius Davis (29) during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Height: 5-11

Weight: 210

Year: RS Junior

Pro Comparison: DeAngelo Williams

2026 NFL Combine Results

Jadarian Price, Notre Dame, RB

Hand Size: N/A
Arm Length: N/A
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Vertical Leap: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A

Pros of Jadarian Price

He possesses some big-time acceleration and long speed; he specializes in creating chunk plays as a runner with the speed to eliminate angles in the open field
Gets vertical in a hurry as a runner; showed improved power to play through contact and break arm tackles during his final season
Boasts a well-proportioned frame; filled out and powerful throughout, especially in his upper body
Showed big improvement in 2025 as a pass protector; worked from a more consistent base and flashed better lower body power
Brings tremendous special teams value; is an outstanding kick returner who averaged 36.1 yards per return and returned three for touchdowns in his career

Cons of Jadarian Price

Can be a very feast or famine runner; hunts for the big play, sacrificing the efficient gain too often
Minimal experience and proven production as a pass receiver; ended his career with just 15 receptions for 162 yards and three touchdowns
Medicals will be worth keeping a close eye on (Achilles tear prior to the 2022 season); limited proof that Price can carry a higher volume of touches
Had a fumbling issue in 2025; needs to play with more consistent ball security

Background

Price was considered to be a consensus four-star player by each of the major recruiting platforms coming out of the 2022 class. The Denison (Texas) High School star finished rated as the No. 201 overall player, the No. 17 running back, and the No. 32 player from the state of Texas on the 247 Sports Composite ranking. 247 Sports was actually the highest on the Texas native coming out on their own individual ranking, as well. Price finished as the No. 166 overall player in the 2022 recruiting class. Notre Dame being able to close on Price was a massive victory at the time. They were able to beat out the likes of Ohio State, Texas, USC, Auburn, TCU, Utah, Texas Tech, Missouri, Baylor, Houston, Minnesota, Arizona State, Virginia Tech, SMU, Stanford, and Oklahoma State, among others.

Before his first season with the Fighting Irish in 2022, Price suffered an Achilles injury that sidelined him for that freshman year. After getting back into the swing of things the following season, Price has developed into one of the most dynamic runners in college football over the last two seasons. He ended his career with 1,692 yards and 21 touchdowns, while also averaging six yards per carry. Price hauled in an additional 15 receptions for 162 yards and three more scores on offense, while becoming one of the very best kick returners in the country. He managed to end his career with three kick return touchdowns and an outstanding 36.1 yards per return.

Player Evaluation

Despite playing behind Jeremiyah Love each of the last two seasons, Price has more than flashed his overall talent with the opportunities that he has been given. He possesses some of the best acceleration you will find, possessing the ability to get to top speed in a hurry. Once Price gets to that top speed, he routinely eliminates angles of pursuit from the second and third levels. In an outside zone heavy approach, Price has the best chance to see his strengths accentuated. He does his best work sticking his foot in the ground and getting vertical, something he does as well as anyone in the 2026 class. As his power continues to improve, we should see Price more and more break arm tackles working through the second level. Price has the body to continue adding solid weight. His frame is already packed together nicely, especially in the upper half. Adding good mass to his lower body will be the next step in development. During the 2025 season, Price showed some huge improvements in pass blocking, which gives more hope for the future. Add in the fact that Price is one of the better kick returners to come out in several years, and you have a dynamic athlete who can change the game in multiple ways.

It may have been due to the mindset to make the most of the opportunity, but Price can be a feast or famine runner at times. He often passes up gaining dirty yards to try and bounce and hit a home run. That leads to far too many negative runs. Price also doesn’t have much in terms of proven pass game production, only hauling in 15 receptions for 162 yards and three touchdowns over three seasons. That creates some issues as a player who will need to fit well into a committee approach early in his career. Price also struggled with ball security during his 2025 season, far too often putting the football on the ground. He will need to be a much more dependable player working through traffic. Medical feedback will be important for Price regarding that 2022 Achilles injury, although folks around the league don’t seem to be overly worried about it right now. It is, however, something to monitor closely.

While there are some deficiencies to work around, Price brings an intriguing blend of explosiveness and big-play ability. That profile should offer him the opportunity to find an important role in a committee approach. From there, it will depend on Price’s improvements with the nuances of the game. There is, however, an important role for him on the NFL level without question.