Notre Dame Running Back Greg Bryant Ineligible, Now What?
By Andrew Hall
Notre Dame needs C.J. Prosise and Freshman Running Backs To Step Up
Yesterday, news surfaced that Junior Running Back Greg Bryant will be academically ineligible for the 2015 season. This leaves the Irish with 3 scholarship Running Backs and slot swingman C.J. Prosise in the backfield.
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Tarean Folston leads the inexperienced group. Prior to the suspensions of Greg Bryant, Folston was going to be the starting Running Back anyway. Notre Dame coaches can depend on Folston for 200 or more carries. Without Bryant, Folston will carry more of the load, at least initially.
The Irish coaching staff will need to prepare Senior swingman C.J. Prosise, Freshman speedster Dexter Williams and Freshman bruiser Josh Adams. Notre Dame may need all of these players before the conclusion of the 2015 campaign.
C.J. Prosise made the shift from Safety to Receiver to Running Back throughout the last few years. Prosise is deadly with the ball in his hands. His 50-yard run against LSU helped shift the momentum back to the Irish sideline. Prosise showed an ability to play Running Back during spring football. However, Prosise may only produce 10 quality carries per game.
One of the Freshman will need to supplement the Notre Dame running attack. Of the Freshman Running Backs, Dexter Williams has the best opportunity to contribute. Williams ranked as the 11th best Running Back and 94th prospect overall.
Josh Adams possesses more size but is still recovering from an ACL injury from his Junior season. Adams can physically play and he demonstrated that during his Senior year. He ran for 1618 yards on 209 carries with 27 touchdowns. Adams has great upside but will be a more polished product when he gains more distance from his ACL injury.
5th-year Senior Slot Receiver Amir Carlisle may be another possibility. Carlisle began his career as a Running Back at USC. He ran 47 times for 204 yards in 2013 as a Notre Dame Running Back. Carlisle could return to give Notre Dame depth at the Running Back position.