Jadarian Price electrifies as a dynamic kick returner, scoring twice and leading the nation in average yards before teams stopped kicking to him.
Notre Dame had two All-Americans playing running back in 2025 now that Jadarian Price is getting recognized for his brilliant season. Price was named an All-America player thanks to his performance as a kick returner this season.
Sports Illustrated named Price their first team All-America returner and USA TODAY Sports named him to the second team.
"Price has been good enough to show up in a number of different spots on All-America teams but has truly thrived bringing back kicks in 2025," wrote Bryan Fischer and Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated. "One of the two he took all the way back to the house proved to be a key spark in the win over USC in October. His 37.5 average ensures most teams limit his opportunities to ever touch the ball during a game."
The Texas native averaged an astounding 37.5 yards per kick return, which would have led the nation if he had enough returns to quality for the final standings. Teams didn't kick to Price much due to his big play return skills that included a pair of kick returns for scores. Price was one of just four players to return two kicks back for touchdowns, but he had the fewer returns among those players and had the best return average.
His first kick return of the season was a 100-yard run against Purdue to end the first half scoring. Price already had two rushing touchdowns in the game and the kick return was his third score of the half. Price finished that game with four total touchdowns. He also had a 42-yard return in the game and finished the victory with 216 total yards and four touchdowns on just 11 touches.
Price's second return of the season was even bigger. USC had just taken 24-21 lead late in the third quarter, but Price made sure that didn't last long. He returned the ensuing kick 100 yards for a go-ahead - and ultimately game winning touchdown. Notre Dame went onto win that game 34-24 and truly got its season back on track. Price finished the win over USC with 209 yards of offense and a pair of touchdowns. Both of his touchdowns in the game put the Irish ahead of the Trojans.
The Texas native finished the 2025 season with 674 rushing yards, 450 kick return yards, 87 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns. His two kick returns this season ties a Notre Dame single-season record that was last accomplished by CJ Sanders back in 2016, and his three career kick returns tied Sanders and trails only Raghib Ismail on the all-time career list. Price currently has a 36.1-per return average during his Notre Dame career.
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