Notre Dame football: Audric Estime shows what ND fans already knew
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team dominated the UNC Tar Heels in Week 4, and running back Audric Estime had the breakout performance we were waiting for.
Last season, we got to see a glimpse of Notre Dame football true freshman running back Audric Estime, but it was mostly during practices and training camp. Going into his second season on campus, we knew that Estime was going to play a bigger role, especially with Kyren Williams off to the NFL.
In 2021, Williams rushed for 1,000 yards for the second straight season and parlayed that into being an NFL draft pick this past April. His backup for a lot of the season was a true freshman last year, but it was Logan Diggs, who flashed signs of brilliance as well.
For Estime, it was all about working hard, getting stronger, and getting ready for his big chance. He toted the rock over 15 times in the win against Cal two weeks ago, and this past Saturday, he finally showed the world what most Irish fans already knew, he is going to be special.
Notre Dame football has a potential star in Estime
Against UNC, Estime took charge of the Irish running back room, rushing for 134 yards on only 17 carries, while finding the end zone twice. The young back showed the ability to run around, and through defenders, something that made him the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year during his time at Saint Joseph Regional High School.
Going into the bye week, Estime showed the world that he is ready to take on more of a load with this Notre Dame football team, and his play will be crucial with some top-25 matchups coming up. The Irish are still not ranked, or even receiving votes, but they showed a multi-faceted offense on Saturday, and a defense that can get stops.
If the Irish are to shock some teams down the road, specifically USC and Clemson, they are going to need their complete group of running backs getting the job done. With his play the last two weeks, Estime is showing he is a legitimate RB1, which is just what the Irish need going forward.