It takes a rare kind of player to never truly be a program’s featured starter and still leave as one of the most respected, productive, and dangerous players in its history. That is exactly the legacy Jadarian Price leaves behind at Notre Dame.
One half of the most explosive backfield the program has ever seen, Price officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft on Wednesday, closing a four-year chapter defined not by ego or individual accolades—but by patience, resilience, and elite production whenever his number was called.
“Notre Dame has truly been a blessing in my life,” Price wrote in his announcement. “Choosing to be a student-athlete here for the past four years is something I will always be grateful for. Through every high and low, this place and its people consistently pushed me to be better, and for that I am forever thankful.”
A Notre Dame football career that defies traditional labels for Jadarian Price
Price’s journey to this moment was anything but conventional. His first season in South Bend was wiped out while recovering from a devastating Achilles injury—an injury that ends careers as often as it delays them. Instead of transferring or fading into the background, Price rebuilt himself.
By 2023, he emerged as Notre Dame’s third option in the backfield. In 2024 and 2025, he became the perfect complement to Jeremiyah Love, forming a tandem that defensive coordinators dreaded preparing for every week.
Calling Price a “backup” undersells what he actually was: a co-starter, a closer, and often the most explosive player on the field.
Despite never being crowned the official RB1, Price’s production speaks volumes—especially when viewed through the lens NFL scouts value most: efficiency and explosiveness.
2025 Season Stats:
- Carries: 118
- Rushing Yards: 745
- Yards Per Carry: 6.3
- Rushing Touchdowns: 9
- Receptions: 8
- Receiving Yards: 94
- Total Touchdowns: 11
Over his final two seasons (2024–2025):
- 233 carries
- 1,420 rushing yards
- 18 rushing touchdowns
- 6.0 yards per carry
Career Totals at Notre Dame:
- 280 carries
- 1,692 rushing yards
- 21 rushing touchdowns
- 15 receptions, 162 yards, 3 receiving TDs
And then there’s the hidden value that doesn’t always show up in box scores.
A Home-Run Threat in every phase for Notre Dame
Price is one of the most dangerous open-field players Notre Dame has ever had. He returned three kickoffs for touchdowns, including two against USC at Notre Dame Stadium—the kind of moments that define rivalries and careers.
NFL teams covet backs who can flip field position, contribute immediately on special teams, and punish defenses that lose gap integrity. Price checks every one of those boxes.
Why Jadarian Price is a Top-20 NFL Draft talent
The modern NFL doesn’t draft running backs early unless they bring something different. Price does.
Elite Traits That Translate Immediately:
- Burst: Acceleration through the hole is elite
- Vision: Sees cutback lanes before they develop
- Contact Balance: Rare ability to stay upright through arm tackles
- Long Speed: Once he’s free, angles disappear
- Versatility: RB, receiver, returner—all NFL ready
But perhaps his most valuable trait?
Selflessness.
Price could have transferred. He could have chased 20 carries a game elsewhere. Instead, he stayed, embraced his role, and maximized every opportunity—earning trust from coaches and teammates alike.
NFL front offices notice that.
Why Jadarian Price might be better than Jeremiyah Love at the next level
This is not a knock on Love—who is a phenomenal prospect—but the NFL often favors backs like Price:
- One-cut explosiveness
- Ability to thrive in zone-heavy schemes
- Value on special teams
- Lower college mileage
Price enters the league fresh, hungry, and with fewer touches on his body than most backs projected near the top of the draft. That matters.
Draft Range and Best Fits
Price’s declaration signals confidence—and rightfully so. He generated legitimate draft stock without ever wearing the RB1 label.
Projected Draft Range: Top 15–25 overall
Ideal Team Fits:
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Dallas Cowboys
- Baltimore Ravens
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Pittsburgh Steelers
Notre Dame has not had two running backs selected in the same NFL Draft since Jerome Bettis and Reggie Brooks in 1993. Love and Price are poised to end that drought—and rewrite expectations for Irish backs in the process.
The lasting image of Jadarian Price in South Bend won’t be a stat line.
It will be the smile that flashed across the screen as he stood beside Jeremiyah Love during Love’s Doak Walker acceptance—content, proud, and fully aware of what they built together.
“To my teammates, this brotherhood is one that will last a lifetime,” Price wrote. “Competing alongside you has been an opportunity of a lifetime, and the memories we’ve created together will stay with me forever.”
Special. Selfless. NFL-ready.
Jadarian Price didn’t need to be Notre Dame’s RB1 to prove he belongs among the best. The league is about to find out.