As the NFL draft inches closer, the focus has shifted to Notre Dame’s two running backs. Jeremiyah Love has attracted much of the attention. But Marcus Freeman is also giving the much-earned appreciation to Jadarian Price.
Marcus Freeman Gives Jadarian Price His Due Respect
The Fighting Irish head coach appeared on Good Morning Football and shared the true and brilliant story of the backfield. He put Price at the center of this narrative, whose highlight reel suggests a primary back’s workload despite a stat sheet that tells a more complicated story of shared real estate.
He said, “If you could just watch his plays, watch plays Jadarian Price played in games here at Notre Dame. Wouldn’t be question why he’s talked about now but wasn’t a lot cuz sharing backfield with Jeremiah Love, he’s unselfish player.”
“When get him on field put ball in hands he makes things happen. Makes big plays, kickoff return touchdowns, long touches. Watching vs Arkansas right before half he finds way to get ball to end zone. Really unique ability to get primary back. He’s been special in same backfield as Jeremiah Love,” he continued.
High praise for Jadarian Price from Head Coach @Marcus_Freeman1 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ytlBdA58VG
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) March 5, 2026
In 2025, Price became a nightmare for special teams coordinators, leading the nation with a staggering 37.5-yard kickoff return average. His efficiency on the ground is equally striking, maintaining a career average of 6.0 yards per carry, a metric that typically signals a player who is maximizing every window his offensive line provides.
However, the case for Price as an overlooked superstar is sometimes muffled by the sheer gravity of Jeremiyah Love’s production. While Price tallied a respectable 674 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games, Love was operating at a Heisman-finalist level, racking up 1,372 yards and 21 total scores. PFSN’s CFB RB Impact Metrics ranked Price 65th in the nation, whereas Love ranked 4th.
This disparity in volume is the primary reason Price wasn’t talked about as much on a national scale. Yet, as the Irish transition into the 2026 draft cycle, the narrative is shifting from who had more carries to who has the higher ceiling.
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PFSN’s Jacob Infante has Price going to the Minnesota Vikings as the 49th pick. He writes, “He’s a tough downhill runner with impressive patience and vision between the tackles, hitting open running lanes.”
Ultimately, Price’s time at Notre Dame served as a masterclass in opportunistic excellence, proving that a player doesn’t need 25 carries a game to be the most dangerous person on the field.
