With star backs gone, Aneyas Williams leads a new crew. Can he stay healthy and carry Notre Dame's championship hopes?
Notre Dame has wrapped up its spring practice period and the team will now head into the summer workout sessions. It was a productive spring for the Irish, who are expected to be one of the nation's best teams in 2026. A big key will be overcoming the loss of star running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, who were both first round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Here's the post-spring depth chart for the Notre Dame running back room.
RETURNING PRODUCTION
Aneyas Williams - 24 att., 224 yards, 9.3 YPC, 5 TD / 2 catches, 40 yards
Kedren Young - 21 att., 116 yards, 5.5 YPC, 1 TD (2024)
Nolan James Jr. - 14 att., 37 yards, 2.6 YPC, 0 TD / 1 catch, 19 yards
THE STARTER
There hasn't been an official starter named at running back, and there's a chance it might not matter. Notre Dame will likely use multiple backs next season, much like it did last season when both Love and Price were able to shine. Whether or not a solo back steps into the "lead back" or whether or not there's more of a platoon situation remains to be seen, but ideally at least one back truly emerge as the leading man.
Despite being limited this spring by an elbow injury that plagued him all the way back to fall camp, rising junior Aneyas Williams goes into the summer as the expected starter at running back. He got mostly backup snaps in 2025, and he was quite impressive in those instances, rushing for 9.3 yards per attempt on his 24 carries. We've seen Williams in crucial moments as well, like when he beat Kobe King on a "Sluggo" route for a 36-yard gain, and then raced 15 yards down to the 4-yard line to set up Notre Dame's third quarter game tying touchdown in the Orange Bowl against Penn State.
Williams has the tools to be a leading man, now he just has to get fully healthy, stay healthy and show he can carry the torch.
DEPTH BATTLES
Injuries to over half the depth chart allowed redshirt freshman Nolan James Jr. and true freshman Jonaz Walton to make a statement this spring. James didn't do much in the Blue-Gold Game, but he was good throughout the spring and will likely be given a chance to at least battle for the No. 2 job, if not the top back role. Walton has dynamic ability and got better throughout the spring. The opportunities he gained this spring should put him in position to make a quick rise in the fall, which could make him very hard to keep off the field in his first season.
INJURY RETURNS ARE KEY
Notre Dame was quite short handed this spring, with Williams being limited and redshirt sophomore Kedren Young (knee) and true freshman Javian Osborne (wrist) both missing the entire spring with injuries. Young might be the most talented runner on the roster, assuming he can return to his pre-injury form. Osborne was a big time prep back that has the talent to make an immediate impact, but he'll have some ground to make up after missing the spring.
When this roster gets back to full strength it will be able to make up for its lack of proven production with big time talent.
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