Notre Dame RB Audric Estimé is a strong, powerful runner. After three years at college, he is now entering the NFL Draft.
Let’s go back through Estimé’s history and take a look at how he reached the point of entering the NFL.
Where Did Audric Estimé’s Football Career Start?
Born in New York, Estimé attended Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, N.J.
Always known for his power, Estimé averaged an impressive 10.5 yards per carry as a senior in high school.
A four-star recruit, Estimé received offers from 18 Division I programs. He committed to play college football at Michigan State but then changed his mind and enrolled at Notre Dame.
Estimé’s College Career
As a true freshman, Estimé did not redshirt despite playing sparingly. As the backup to future Day 3 pick and current Los Angeles Rams starting running back Kyren Williams, Estimé saw a mere seven carries in the 2021 season.
With Williams joining the NFL in 2022, Estimé was elevated to the lead back role. He had a breakout year, playing in 13 games and carrying the ball 156 times for 920 yards and 11 touchdowns. Estimé also caught nine passes for 135 yards and another score.
As a junior in 2023, Estimé took his game to another level. In 12 games, he ran the ball 210 times for 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding 17 receptions for another 142 yards through the air.
One of the youngest players in this year’s class, Estimé opted to forgo his senior year and declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Estimé’s Potential in the NFL
Estimé is an interesting evaluation for the NFL.
He was very productive in his two years as a starter for Notre Dame, playing against quality competition. But he will be one of the slowest backs in the league, having run a 4.71-second 40-time. Historically, anything slower than 4.65 seconds usually spells doom for a prospect’s potential.
With that said, Estimé does profile to have a role as a power back. What he lacks in speed, he makes up for in short-yardage bursts and raw power at 215 pounds, as Pro Football Network draft analyst Ian Cummings explains.
MORE: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Audric Estimé
“Estimé grades out as an early Day 3 prospect on my 2024 NFL Draft. Based on his volume-back size, explosiveness testing, production, and age, he could sneak into the top 100. But in either range, he has the tools to be a solid early-down NFL back with volume ability.
“With his solid processing ability, vision, patience, and discipline between the tackles, Estimé can find lanes through which to chisel upfield with his fleet-footed burst and savvy hip adjustments. And once he encounters contact, Estimé has the strength, leg churn, and contact balance to break through and finish forward on runs.
“Give Estimé a good offensive line, and he has the tools to be a David Montgomery-type yardage generator who can keep the chains moving when his team has a positive game script. The 20-year-old is well worth a mid-round pick and could exceed that draft billing in the right situation.”
Highlights, Records, and More
Although he was quite the productive runner at Notre Dame, Estimé did not earn any individual accolades. He was named to College Football Network’s 2023 second-team All-American offense.
In his junior year, Estimé closed out his tenure at college with the best game of his career. Against Stanford, he carried the ball 25 times for 238 yards and four touchdowns. All three of those numbers were career bests.
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