The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are gearing up for a transformative 2026 college football season. National championship hopes are front and center.
A huge piece of the puzzle will be their revamped running back room. With Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price off to the NFL, the Irish will roll out a fresh group of backs, each with something different to offer.
So, what can fans expect from this ever-changing group? There’s a lot of intrigue about how these backs might shape Notre Dame’s run at glory.
The New Faces in Notre Dame’s Backfield
This fall, Notre Dame’s running back lineup will be a blend of veterans and promising new faces. Here’s a look at the key players and what they might bring:
Aneyas Williams: The Veteran Leader
Junior running back Aneyas Williams is now the most seasoned guy in the room. Last year, he averaged over 9 yards per carry—pretty wild, honestly.
Injuries slowed him down then, but now he’s healthy and looking stronger than ever. Williams runs with real power, so he’s the guy you want in short-yardage spots.
He also catches passes out of the backfield, which adds another wrinkle. Williams is expected to be the “1A” in a committee that could feature up to four backs.
His ability to shoulder a big workload will matter a lot, especially with the bar set so high this season.
James: The Redshirt Freshman with Potential
Keep an eye on the redshirt freshman from New Jersey, known as James. He’s up to 215 pounds and brings a tough, physical style that’s caught the coaches’ attention.
Running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider points to James’ footwork and attitude as examples for the younger guys. His mix of size and agility could earn him a real role, especially when Notre Dame needs a few tough yards.
Kedren Young: The Wild Card
Redshirt sophomore Kedren Young is the wild card here. At 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds, he’s got a rare combo of size and power.
The big question: is he healthy? Young missed all of 2025 with a knee injury.
If he can stay on the field, he could really shake things up. His all-around game makes him a candidate for both early-down and short-yardage roles.
Jonaz Walton: The Speedster Freshman
True freshman Jonaz Walton has already turned heads in spring practice. At 208 pounds and with a 10.5-second 100-meter dash, he’s got legit long speed and a solid frame.
Walton’s breakaway ability is fun to watch. He might be eased in at first, but he’s a change-of-pace threat who could step up if injuries hit the top backs.
Javian Osborne: The Explosive Freshman
Another true freshman, Javian Osborne, has been limited by injury this offseason. He’s 5-foot-9, 200 pounds, and runs low with great burst and quickness.
Osborne’s got real “home-run” potential and soft hands out of the backfield. Whether he cracks the rotation this year or is more of a 2027 guy, he’s one to watch.
The Committee Approach
This year, Notre Dame won’t lean on just one or two stars. Head coach Marcus Freeman and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock are planning to use a true committee—maybe three or four backs getting real touches.
That should keep everyone fresh and make the offense a headache for opponents. The idea is to spread the work around and stay strong all season long.
Expectations for the 2026 Season
With national championship aspirations, the pressure’s on for Notre Dame’s running back room to deliver. The mix of seasoned veterans and new faces gives them a decent shot at success.
Here’s what folks are watching for:
- Leadership from Aneyas Williams: Williams is the most experienced back, so he’ll probably need to step up as a leader both on and off the field.
- Emergence of James: James brings some real physicality and hustle—he might just work his way into a bigger role.
- Kedren Young’s Health: If Young can stay on the field, he could be a real difference-maker.
- Contributions from Freshmen: Walton and Osborne are both wild cards with a ton of upside, and they could add some much-needed depth.
Want a deeper dive into Notre Dame’s running backs? The full article’s over at Yahoo Sports.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
