While discussion over who will be the starting running back for the Notre Dame football game has focused mostly on Aneyas Williams, the Irish might have an even bigger running back by committee, especially early in the season.
It’s not that Williams has disappointed in training camp or in prep for the regular season. Rather, two freshmen are impressing the coaches every time they put on the pads. Jonaz Walton and Javian Osborne have both caught the eye of offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, who talked earlier this week about the chances they’ll both get plenty of playing time in 2026.
“When you hand those guys the ball, it’s reminiscent of what we’ve watched the last couple of years,” Denbrock said after one practice. When he mentioned the “last couple of years,” he was clearly talking about Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Though he was quick to add that he’s not claiming the freshmen are already at that level, Denbrock believes they could be very, very productive very soon.
“I’m not comparing them to those guys, but they have something about them that is really, really cool and they’re home run hitters.”
Jonaz Walton and Javian Osborne challenge Aneyas Williams in Notre Dame football backfield
Osborne has demonstrated the ability to score from anywhere on the field. As a senior in 2025, he rushed for 2,015 yards and 32 touchdowns on 249 carries, averaging 8.1 yards per attempt, while adding 10 receptions for 155 yards. He rushed for 1,085 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior according to MaxPreps. Osborne finished his prep career as Forney High School’s all-time leader in rushing yards and career touchdowns and earned first-team All-State honors following his senior season.
Walton has gotten a ton of praise already after a very solid spring and start to training camp. Coaches talked about him as perhaps the Price to Williams’ Love in sharing carries in 2026. However, it now looks like running back could be a three-headed snake if Osborne has joined the mix.
Walton and Osborne both entered the program as 4-star recruits, and it looks like they’re living up to the hype. There isn’t a set pecking order for the backs just yet, but Aneyas Williams appears to be the starter and Nolan James will get plenty of run for Notre Dame as well. Walton and Osborne have a great opportunity to play early, but they’ll obviously have to earn it. With so much talent in the running back room, how the Irish use all these players will be quite interesting to watch.
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