Notre Dame football: Expect big things from Audric Estime in Year 2
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team may be losing Kyren Williams to the NFL, but there are some young running backs returning in 2022 that should dominate.
When it comes to the Notre Dame football team, they will have to replace Kyren Williams this upcoming season, an NFL-bound running back who recently put together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Williams immediately stepped into the spotlight and dominated for the Irish back in 2020, and followed that up with another strong season to close out his collegiate career.
With plenty of eligibility left, Williams made the smart decision to try his hand at the next level, as he is rated as one of the top-5 running backs in the 2022 NFL Draft class. Williams did not leave the cupboard barren, however, as there is plenty of young talent returning, including true sophomore Audric Estime.
After a standout high school career at Saint Joseph Regional in New Jersey, Estime saw limited playing time as a true freshman, but you can be sure he is bound to be a big part of the offense in 2022. Estime has the size to run through defenders, and the speed to run around them, making him one of the more exciting returning offensive players this season.
Notre Dame football returning young talent at running back
Notre Dame football has a strong nucleus at the running back spot returning, including Estime, and fellow true sophomore, Logan Diggs. Unlike Estime, Diggs got plenty of playing time last season, and many feel that he will go into Year 2 as the feature back for this offense.
While Diggs is an incredible talent and will play a major role in 2022, Estime is going to get his fair share of carries as well. New running back coach Deland McCullough has already taken to Estime and loves what he brings to the table every day, giving the Irish more than a few options in the run game this season.
Estime is a tough kid with a strong build, and he is certainly someone who is going to get crucial carries within the red zone. The Irish also return a playmaker in Chris Tyree, and a true freshman is coming in as well, with Jadarian Price joining the fold, so the loss of Williams will be a tough one for this offense, but the reinforcements could be special as well.