BREAKING | 2021 RB Audric Estime Flips To Notre Dame
Audric Estime knew it was a possibility and he hoped it’d become a reality, but that doesn’t mean the late offer from Notre Dame made the 2021 New Jersey running back’s decision an easy one.
Estime committed to Michigan State back in September, but after a monster senior season for St. Joseph, he began to garner interest from other programs, including Notre Dame.
It was obvious an Irish offer was one the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder coveted and on Monday, it arrived, two days before the opening of the Early Signing Period.
Estime didn’t sign on Wednesday, the first day of the early period, but just announced that after considering his options, he was indeed flipping his commitment from the Spartans and has now signed the Irish.
“I just thought Notre Dame was the best choice for me,” Estime told Irish Sports Daily. “It feels like home and can make me successful.
“It’s kind of like the best of both worlds; one of the best academic schools and one of the best football schools. You can’t really go wrong with that. I think they’ll help me be successful in life and reach the goals I want to reach.”
The inability to visit South Bend before signing was a hurdle, but not an insurmountable one.
“Not seeing the campus is a pretty big thing, but when the school checks off every other thing on the checklist, it’s not a half-hearted decision,” Estime said. “They checked everything off the checklist my family and I had. They thought I was ready and I felt ready, so I just did it.”
Estime was recruited by running backs coach Lance Taylor, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and recruiting coordinator Brian Polian.
“I actually built a pretty strong relationship in a short amount of time, a few months or so,” Estime explained. “It’s just been consistent talking on the phone, consistent Zoom meetings and just building a bond from there. You just got to have trust and faith. I have faith in them and they have faith in me.”
His pledge gives Notre Dame 26 current signees and could very well join Louisiana’s Logan Diggs, who has been a longtime Irish commit, who himself was a considering a flip after a late offer from LSU. But the expectation is that Diggs too will end up signing with the Irish.
Estime rushed for 1,857 yards and 22 touchdowns on 190 carries in eight games as a senior, for eye-popping averages of 232 rushing yards per game and 9.8 yards per carry. He also caught 14 passes for 185 yards and two more scores.
“I think some people had some questions about speed and some other things and they’ve seen the tape this year and he’s been unstoppable,” St. Joseph head coach Dan Marangi told ISD earlier in the process.
“He never goes down with just the first guy hitting him. It always takes multiple people to bring him down. He’s got great balance, so he’s able to either run you over or make a move to get by you. He tends to stay on his feet even in some tight situations.
“He’s hurdled guys. You just don’t see that out of backs who are 6-1, 210, 215.”
A longtime assistant at Don Bosco Prep, Marangi has sent multiple players to Notre Dame dating back decades.
“Audric fits right into that mold as a person with high character who is not only going to be a great football player, a great role model, but he’s going to do that off the field as well,” he said. “I think that’s what Notre Dame looks for.
“They look for guys who aren’t just quality football players, but quality individuals on and off the field. They’re going to represent the program. They don’t have to worry about what guys are doing when they’re away from the facility and all of that stuff.”
Estime and his family plan to get to South Bend for a visit when they can, but he won’t wait to begin preparing for college.
“I’m just real excited, honestly. The recruiting process is over. I’m sealed in with one school. Now it’s time to focus on school and focus on training; getting stronger and faster for the next level.”