Notre Dame Football vs. Purdue: 3 Irish players to watch in Week 3

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CHESTNUT HILL, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 14: Brandon Barlow #44 of the Boston College Eagles tackles Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Alumni Stadium on November 14, 2020, in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame Football vs. Purdue: 3 Irish players to watch in Week 3

Kyren Williams

Finally, we turn back to the offensive side of the ball, where the Irish are going to need a big game from redshirt sophomore running back Kyren Williams. Williams more than doubled his yards-per-carry average against Toledo this past weekend, but he has still yet to eclipse the 100-yard mark and has also yet to even run the ball 20 times in a game.

That has to change against Purdue, as Williams should be featured early and often, pounding this Boilermakers defense into submission. It has been a very slow start to the season for a guy who was on a bunch of watch lists and getting All-America buzz in the preseason, so the Irish need to go back to what worked so well for them in 2020, and that is getting the ball into his hands.

1 Jan 1999: Head Coach George O''Leary of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in action during the Toyota Gator Bowl Game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Yellow Jackets defeated the Fighting Irish 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Erik Perel /Allsport

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For the Irish to control this game in every facet, they have to get the running game going and keep it going throughout. Williams played much better in Week 2 than he did in Week 1, but building on that against a tough Big Ten school will be paramount inside Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday.

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