Notre Dame enters the 2025 season with what seems to be the best running back room in the country from top to bottom. The youth, talent and athleticism that is behind them is enough to put this group at the top of college football this upcoming season, and it should serve as the foundation of the 2025 offense.
2025 RB Roster
The Irish have eight running backs on their roster and return almost all of its production from a season ago. The only departure was former Penn State transfer Devyn Ford who tallied 13 rushes for 55 yards and two receptions for six yards. The room is led by Love and Price who return this year in hopes of building off of their spectacular 2024 season where they combined for 1,871 rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns and averaged 6.6 yards per carry. They rival Penn State as being the best running back duo in college football.
The room is spear headed by star running back Jeremiyah Love who racked up 1,125 rushing yards and 19 total touchdowns a season ago. Rising senior and big play threat Jadarian Price also returns to this room and is arguably the biggest home run hitter of the group.
Behind them are four backs who are relatively young but have loads of talent. Rising sophomore Aneyas Williams had the most experience of the group in 2024. He had 219 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns a season ago, highlighted by his impressive performance in the Orange Bowl. Fellow rising sophomore Kedren Young is a big bodied back who is light on his feet. At 235 pounds, Young is by far the biggest back in the room, and had a strong spring to boot. Young is poised to crack the rotation in 2025, especially as a potential short-yardage/goal line running back.
Senior Gi’Bran Payne returned from injury and was full-go throughout the spring. Thankfully, it appeared that he hadn’t lost a step despite tearing his ACL a season ago. True freshman Nolan James Jr. is a playmaker in the works and received valuable experience as an early enrollee. Walk-ons Dylan Devezin and Jake Tafelski round out this loaded room.
Not many programs can lose a running back coach like Deland McCullough and replace them with Ja’Juan Seider and maintain 99 percent of their production from a season ago. Notre Dame’s running back room is poised to be a lethal threat once again this fall.
Post Spring Analysis
For much of the spring, in the access we had, Love worked predominantly with the receivers, working on his route running and catching ability. This doesn’t mean he’ll be working at the receiver position, but he’s finding more ways to be a threat within the offense. Price flashed in the spring game, seemingly picking up where he left off from last season’s campaign. Young had the biggest jump this spring in comparison to the other backs. He’s a patient runner that accelerates through the hole and can also be a threat in the passing game which isn’t common for a back that’s 235 pounds.
Payne was spoken highly of as spring practice progressed. He and Williams are the two best pass blockers in the room, which made both of them valuable assets on third down, Payne in 2023 and Williams in 2024.
Overall, the biggest takeaway from the spring was the rooms involvement in the passing game. Love, Price, Williams, Payne, Young and James all showed the ability to make plays vertically down the field. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has done a tremendous job throughout his career finding ways to get the ball into the hands of his best playmakers, and the running back room is loaded with them.
Moving Forward
This group has talent, experience and big play making ability. However, there’s still some things we need to see from this group moving forward. Notre Dame is in a position where improving key areas keeps them competing for championships, not just making the playoffs. With that in mind, here are some key areas of focus for this loaded room from now until the end of fall camp:
1. Replacing Riley Leonard’s Production – Last season, starting quarterback Riley Leonard was a focal point in the run game. He had a team leading 184 carries, recorded 907 rushing yards and rushed for 17 touchdowns. Leonard had 25 rushes of 10 yards or more and rushed for 68 first downs over the course of the season. He was a major red zone and short yardage threat. Who replaces him? The likely candidate is Young at 235 pounds, but all of the running backs have the ability to put their nose down and move the chains on third or fourth and short.
2. Remain Healthy – In the regular season, Love was a force to be reckoned with, but an unfortunate second half injury against USC stalled his production in the post season. Outside of his 98 yard electric touchdown run against Indiana, Love was relatively neutralized in the playoffs. He had 19 rushing yards against Georgia, 46 rushing yards against Penn State and three rushing yards against Ohio State, largely due to not being 100 percent. With that being said, Notre Dame is poised to play another long season based on the talent they bring back. Love along with the rest of the room, will have to remain healthy for another 14 to 16 game season.
3. Improvement In Pass Protection – Protecting the quarterback is a group effort. A lot of the attention, as it should, goes to the offensive line. However, players like Price will have to improve their abilities in pass protection to help out a first year starting quarterback.
Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge
Irish Breakdown Content
2025 Depth Chart
2025 Football Schedule
Notre Dame 2026 Scholarship Offers
2025 Commit Rankings – Offense
2025 Commit Rankings – Defense
2024 Recruiting Class
2023 Recruiting Class
2022 Recruiting Class
———————
Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.
Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!
Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @TTrow5
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook
Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter
Notre Dame enters the 2025 season with what seems to be the best running back room in the country from top to bottom. The youth, talent and athleticism that is behind them is enough to put this group at the top of college football this upcoming season, and it should serve as the foundation of the 2025 offense.
2025 RB Roster
The Irish have eight running backs on their roster and return almost all of its production from a season ago. The only departure was former Penn State transfer Devyn Ford who tallied 13 rushes for 55 yards and two receptions for six yards. The room is led by Love and Price who return this year in hopes of building off of their spectacular 2024 season where they combined for 1,871 rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns and averaged 6.6 yards per carry. They rival Penn State as being the best running back duo in college football.
The room is spear headed by star running back Jeremiyah Love who racked up 1,125 rushing yards and 19 total touchdowns a season ago. Rising senior and big play threat Jadarian Price also returns to this room and is arguably the biggest home run hitter of the group.
Behind them are four backs who are relatively young but have loads of talent. Rising sophomore Aneyas Williams had the most experience of the group in 2024. He had 219 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns a season ago, highlighted by his impressive performance in the Orange Bowl. Fellow rising sophomore Kedren Young is a big bodied back who is light on his feet. At 235 pounds, Young is by far the biggest back in the room, and had a strong spring to boot. Young is poised to crack the rotation in 2025, especially as a potential short-yardage/goal line running back.
Senior Gi’Bran Payne returned from injury and was full-go throughout the spring. Thankfully, it appeared that he hadn’t lost a step despite tearing his ACL a season ago. True freshman Nolan James Jr. is a playmaker in the works and received valuable experience as an early enrollee. Walk-ons Dylan Devezin and Jake Tafelski round out this loaded room.
Not many programs can lose a running back coach like Deland McCullough and replace them with Ja’Juan Seider and maintain 99 percent of their production from a season ago. Notre Dame’s running back room is poised to be a lethal threat once again this fall.
Post Spring Analysis
For much of the spring, in the access we had, Love worked predominantly with the receivers, working on his route running and catching ability. This doesn’t mean he’ll be working at the receiver position, but he’s finding more ways to be a threat within the offense. Price flashed in the spring game, seemingly picking up where he left off from last season’s campaign. Young had the biggest jump this spring in comparison to the other backs. He’s a patient runner that accelerates through the hole and can also be a threat in the passing game which isn’t common for a back that’s 235 pounds.
Payne was spoken highly of as spring practice progressed. He and Williams are the two best pass blockers in the room, which made both of them valuable assets on third down, Payne in 2023 and Williams in 2024.
Overall, the biggest takeaway from the spring was the rooms involvement in the passing game. Love, Price, Williams, Payne, Young and James all showed the ability to make plays vertically down the field. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has done a tremendous job throughout his career finding ways to get the ball into the hands of his best playmakers, and the running back room is loaded with them.
Moving Forward
This group has talent, experience and big play making ability. However, there’s still some things we need to see from this group moving forward. Notre Dame is in a position where improving key areas keeps them competing for championships, not just making the playoffs. With that in mind, here are some key areas of focus for this loaded room from now until the end of fall camp:
1. Replacing Riley Leonard’s Production – Last season, starting quarterback Riley Leonard was a focal point in the run game. He had a team leading 184 carries, recorded 907 rushing yards and rushed for 17 touchdowns. Leonard had 25 rushes of 10 yards or more and rushed for 68 first downs over the course of the season. He was a major red zone and short yardage threat. Who replaces him? The likely candidate is Young at 235 pounds, but all of the running backs have the ability to put their nose down and move the chains on third or fourth and short.
2. Remain Healthy – In the regular season, Love was a force to be reckoned with, but an unfortunate second half injury against USC stalled his production in the post season. Outside of his 98 yard electric touchdown run against Indiana, Love was relatively neutralized in the playoffs. He had 19 rushing yards against Georgia, 46 rushing yards against Penn State and three rushing yards against Ohio State, largely due to not being 100 percent. With that being said, Notre Dame is poised to play another long season based on the talent they bring back. Love along with the rest of the room, will have to remain healthy for another 14 to 16 game season.
3. Improvement In Pass Protection – Protecting the quarterback is a group effort. A lot of the attention, as it should, goes to the offensive line. However, players like Price will have to improve their abilities in pass protection to help out a first year starting quarterback.
Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge
Irish Breakdown Content
2025 Depth Chart
2025 Football Schedule
Notre Dame 2026 Scholarship Offers
2025 Commit Rankings – Offense
2025 Commit Rankings – Defense
2024 Recruiting Class
2023 Recruiting Class
2022 Recruiting Class
———————
Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.
Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!
Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @TTrow5
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook
Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter
