Adversity No Problem For Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price
The moment had been a long time coming for Jadarian Price.
His number was finally called with 1:12 left in the first quarter in Saturday’s game with Navy and Price made the most of it.
Notre Dame’s offensive line made a hole, Price hit it and then broke two tackles before exploding for a 19-yard score on the first carry of his career to put the Fighting Irish up 14-0.
When Price crossed the goal line, it was a feeling of accomplishment, but also of confusion as he wasn’t quite sure what to do, so he did the obvious. He found the nearest offensive lineman.
“You always expect success any time you’re on the football field,” stated Price. “You manifest it and you expect the best outcome to happen. But nobody expects their first touch to be a touchdown.
“When I scored, I didn’t know exactly what to do. I just knew to go celebrate with the linemen. They did their job. That’s the reason I scored. I’m glad I have the teammates I have because when I scored, they were all excited that I scored and we all just shared the celebration.”
Price’s return from tearing his Achilles last summer has been well documented, but it doesn’t change the fact it made the moment that much sweeter. It was an emotional moment for the 5-foot-10, 206-pounder and rightfully so, but Price has now put it in the past.
“Before the game, I was a little emotional like this is my first game back,” explained Price. “Big stage but the nerves went out the window once that first kickoff went. Once I was in the game, I was like, ‘OK, this is it.’
“When I scored, I really couldn’t believe it. It just hit me. I had dropped the ball and one of my teammates came up to me and he was like, ‘Good job, but hand the ball to the ref.’ Then I remembered, that’s the standard. Coach Freeman preaches to us all the time that success around here are short-lived. Wins around here are short-lived. Once it happens, celebrate it, but one play, one life, go on to the next and do it again. That’s the standard here.”
The sophomore back probably did more in fall camp than most expected coming off his injury and playing in a game was another box checked for Price.
Price scoring in that fashion was also another significant confidence boost as now he knows he can make plays in a game.
“I don’t feel any limitations physically,” Price said. “I don’t think there’s anything holding me back. When I first came back to fall camp, it was more of a confidence thing. All mental and I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent there, but I’m getting there. Once I get more reps in game and sharing those experiences with my teammates and them having my back, I will continue to be explosive. As you all saw this past Saturday in Ireland, I do have that explosiveness back and I will continue to do that.”
Offensive coordinator Gerad Parker, who called plays for Notre Dame for the first time on Saturday, believes Price’s touchdown run could be a significant morale boost for his back.
“It’s no different than me,” Parker said. “When you have success, it breeds confidence. Confidence begets more of it and expectations grow higher in good environments. I think for him to be able to come out of that after the year he’s had, to get healthy and have success on a run like that has to pull some mojo for him. I think you’ll see him grow and get better and better.”
Notre Dame’s rotation of five running backs is also a positive for Price as he won’t be overworked while still pushing each player to maximize their touches on Saturday.
Deland McCullough’s rotation likely wouldn’t work with some teams as everyone wants the rock, but Notre Dame’s running backs have fully embraced sharing the workload.
“We know at any moment our name could be called just the way the system goes,” Price explained. “We all have certain jobs depending on the down and distance, things like that, or situations, time management. We know we have to pay attention at all times and I think that’s a very good thing for us, especially guys like me and Jeremiyah Love who are newer guys who don’t have much experience in college football.
“I think that’s really good for us and that will make our running back room better going into September, October and November.”
The support for each other doesn’t just mean being OK with sharing carries. Price and the other backs give each other immediate feedback, which also speaks to the health of the room.
“We’re talking through the play,” stated Price. “Whoever is in, we’re on the sideline talking, Coach McCullough is talking to us. We’re communicating what the play is. We’re imagining ourselves on the field. Everybody does that in practice. I think that’s a good thing in the running back room. We do it in the game as well. That is why we set the standards we set for the offense.”
And while there is a clear No. 1 back in Audric Estimé as Marcus Freeman stated on Monday, but it doesn’t mean Notre Dame running backs are content. Price and his fellow backs know a big game could be on the horizon.
"We can be really dangerous because I think each and every one of us can run for over 100 yards at any given moment,” explained Price. “Teams will have to watch film and figure out what we’re going because our room has many weapons. We’re fast, we‘re powerful, we’re explosive. I feel like we will go out and show that every week.”
The Texas native chose hard when he committed to Notre Dame in February of 2021 and while he might have faced a little more adversity than he expected in year one, Price couldn’t be happier with his decision.
“I think this is the best decision I made to come here and I’ll always believe that,” said Price. “This place will take me farther than I could ever imagine. This team has challenged me to be better. Coach McCullough has continued to challenge me to be better. My teammates and the running back room – which is one of the best running back rooms in the country – challenge myself and others to be better.”
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