Notre Dame Football: Just How Good Is Josh Adams?

Brian Kelly wants Josh Adams to start getting national recognition and he deserves it.

Josh Adams has been putting up crazy numbers when you break it down. In fact, it’s almost absurd that he has not been receiving national attention so far.

With 658 rushing yards already, he’s 4th in the country for most rushing yards, behind only Stanford’s Bryce Love, San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny, and North Texas’s Jeffery Willson.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football

Of course, Bryce Love has been the talk of the nation so far this season with ridiculously 1,088 yards so far. What we have to ask ourselves is that completely out of reach for Adams potential?

Adams lack of playing time

Adams is 430 yards shy of tying Love’s total rushing yards. He also hasn’t played in five quarters this season. Between nagging injuries and dominating some opponents, the Irish have gone without the talent of Adams.

Only playing three quarters against Boston College and one against Miami (OH), Adams still ran for a combined 388 yards, almost a 15 yards per carry. We can only imagine what he could have done if he was able to play the rest of those games. Against Miami (OH) alone, he rushed for 19.8 yards per carry.

Adams is not only a big guy, but he’s a wreaking ball. Arm tackles simply are not enough to bring him down. And if you get too close, it could get physical. Against Miami (OH), Adams displayed another vicious stiff arm.

The Exception and Rebound

Now yes, Adams did get shut down against Georgia. But, no one finds success trying to run against the Bulldogs. He only had 53 yards against the 2nd best defense in the country. Opponents only average 2.9 yards a carry against Georgia.

But Adams bounced back with 229 yards in just three quarters against Boston College. So yes, Adams has good numbers and he has had a bad game, but what he has done overall is worth noting.

This is not just out of the blue. No Adams has been performing like this. Last week he moved up to eighth on Notre Dame’s all-time career rushing leaders with 2,426 yards. He will not finish there. It is almost assured that against North Carolina he will pass Cierre Wood for 7th on that list, only needing 21 yards to match.

Adams has rushed his way through the Notre Dame record books and anyone standing in front of him. The national attention hasn’t quite been there, but after awhile it will have to.