Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price Staying Patient While Preparing for Return
Jadarian Price stole the show last spring in Notre Dame’s Blue-Gold Game as the early enrollee freshman ran for 12 yards, but also caught eight passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Two months later, Price was doing a few footwork drills following summer conditioning when he and players all over the field heard his Achilles pop following a cut.
“Instantly I knew,” recalled Price. “I think the D-linemen on the opposite field heard it. It was loud. I knew instantly. I tried to get up, but I couldn't walk, so I knew instantly.”
The Texas native had ruptured his left Achilles, which meant Price was not only gone for the season, but he would have a long road to recovery.
It was a tough moment as the season was approaching and Price had momentum following his strong spring, which likely made it even tougher on the freshman as he was setting himself up to get playing time.
"Personally, last spring, it was me keeping my head straight, staying humble and just getting to feel things and getting better as an individual,” Price explained. “I didn't know the impact I made really until after the spring game when people realized, you know, taking a look back at the spring, how well I did. I didn't know I did that well and caught that many eyes and attention.”
On Thursday, Price returned to the Notre Dame stretching lines for FSA after a few weeks of light running and now he will continue to build himself up to be ready for fall camp.
And yes, when Price started running, the first rep was a little weird, but it didn’t take long to find his comfort.
"Anybody coming off an injury like I did and being nine months out, your first time running is a little awkward and it does feel a little weird,” stated Price. “It's almost like as soon as you get that first rep done, it's like second nature the second time. It's like riding a bike. You don't forget how to run. I'm getting back and I'm almost to 100 percent."
Despite the adversity, Price has kept a clear eye view and credits those around him for picking him up during his recovery.
"The toughest part is knowing it's a long journey,” said Price. “It's not under six months. It's over six months. Just knowing it's over half a year for me to be able to get back on the field, it wasn't a good thing. Knowing I had people around me to support me and things like that - this is a great team and it's a brotherhood and we all support each other. I'm really grateful for that."
Running backs coach Deland McCullough is counting down the days until Price can return to the field as the body of work last spring has him excited for the future.
“I'm very optimistic about him,” said McCullough. “We’ve seen from a front row seat of what he did during the spring last year and it was really, really good. He'll be starting to reintegrate into everything we got going on.
“Feeling confident that by the time we get in June, he'll be a full participant. We kind of go from there. But skill set, the guy’s put together. He’s smart, fast, explosive. He has all of the competencies you want at that position,”
If you talk with Price, you wouldn’t get the vibe he was impatient, but it’s only natural to count down the days on the back end of a long rehab.
And that includes not letting his mind slip to think about goals for 2023.
"Right now, I'm just focused on the present,” Price explained. “I think as long as I take care of now, the future will handle itself. Honestly, I think people have a lot to look forward to. They were already anticipating what I did in the spring and I'm just focused on rehab and getting my acceleration back and going into the summer with 100 percent health. Everything after that will fall along and into place."
Price did make a few changes in the offseason.
He’s up 10 pounds of good weight and will move back to No. 24 after spending the year wearing No. 20.
"I wanted 24 last season,” Price stated. “Audric had 24 his freshman season. I knew he was switching to 7 and my goal was to switch to 24 before the summer. When I got hurt in the summer, I was like, I might as well keep 20 and that's what everyone knew me by in the spring game, so I'll keep that until next season when I play and change to 24.
"24 is a big number to me. I've worn it all of high school and middle school. It's a number I love and I wear it on my necklace.”
No. 24 will be back in pads sooner than later and Price has little doubt he’ll be prepared for it.
“When that time comes, I know I'll be ready,” said Price. “I'm sure there might be a couple nervous jitters or whatnot. That's how everyone is before they line up for the first play. When fall camp comes around, everyone will be in the same boat. They haven't put on pads in a couple months, so that will be good for me being around people who haven't been hit in a while. I think it'll make me feel more comfortable. That first play, I'll for sure be ready that first fall camp practice."
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