So far, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have avoided a rush into the transfer portal at the running back position. Both star running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price have declared for the NFL Draft. This shouldn’t have come as a surprise, as both had outstanding careers at Notre Dame and very productive 2025 seasons. Love was a Heisman Trophy Finalist and won the Doak Walker Award. He finished the 2025 season with a career-high 1,372 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. He did this in three fewer games than the 2024 season. Love may have been the lead back, but Price was integral to the Notre Dame offense as well. He finished his season with 674 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. He also averaged six yards per rush. So, where do the Irish go from these two?
Who Will Be the Lead Back in 2026?
Notre Dame has lost one running back to the transfer portal so far this period. Gi’Bran Payne entered the portal and has committed to Cincinnati for the 2026 season. Payne has been on the Notre Dame roster since he was a freshman in 2022. Out of high school, Payne was a four-star recruit according to 247Sports. Over the course of three seasons, he missed the 2024 season due to an ACL tear; Payne rushed for 226 yards and two touchdowns. The Cincinnati Bearcats will be a homecoming for Payne. He will be able to finish his collegiate career back at home.
So, who does that leave for the Irish entering 2026?
Notre Dame signed two running backs in the 2026 recruiting class. Jonaz Walton and Javian Osborne are two four-star recruits according to the 247Sports Composite Ranking. Osborne is from Forney, TX, and will be on Notre Dame’s campus early to take advantage of acclimating to college life earlier than most. Further, he is the 10th-ranked running back in the 2026 class. Right behind him in the rankings is Walton. The 11th-ranked running back in the 2026 class is from Carrollton, GA. Could these two be the next Love and Price? Only time will tell.
Several Returners Look to be the Lead Back
Love, Price, and Payne are all gone for 2026, but that still leaves Kedren Young, Aneyas Williams, and Nolan James Jr. Young missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL in practice. However, he did appear in seven games during his true freshman season in 2024. Young finished 2024 with 21 rushing attempts and one touchdown. He will look to get back in the rotation in 2026. James Jr. was a true freshman in 2025 and saw limited action. He played in four games and rushed for 37 yards. Young should be healthy and ready to contribute meaningfully in practice once Spring sessions start, but look for James Jr. to take advantage of the time he has had behind Love and Price. These two will likely be competing for the second and third running back spots this Spring.
That leaves Williams. Williams didn’t enter the transfer portal so far this period, and it doesn’t look like he will. He understands that he is likely the heir apparent for the 2026 season. Williams played in 15 games in his freshman season in 2024. He finished that season with 34 rushing attempts and averaged just under six-and-a-half yards per rushing attempt. As a freshman, Williams scored two touchdowns. His usage was more limited in 2025 during his sophomore season, which was likely by design. With both Love and Price healthy, there was no reason to put Williams in unnecessarily. Even still, Williams averaged just over nine yards per rush this season. He also scored five touchdowns on 24 rushing attempts. This was 10 fewer attempts than his freshman season, but he still rushed for five more yards.
Williams will be the lead back in 2026. Now it’s just about who will support him in those supplemental roles.
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