Notre Dame Football

Notre Dame RB Logan Diggs Growing From Adversity

By Matt Freeman

April 10, 2023

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Spring football is a time for acclimation, installs and for veteran players, growth.

Notre Dame running back Logan Diggs has missed a few weeks of spring ball, but it’s not been a complete wash as he’s been dialed in on helping his room take a step forward, but he’s also challenged himself to grow mentally while watching.

“Sometimes you don’t see certain things and they might,” stated Diggs. “So, when Audric comes off the field, I tell him what he could have done and ask him what he saw. I give him feedback and that’s always helpful because at the running back position it’s not as easy as everybody thinks it is.

“There’s always something else out there. Being that person that people can come to and ask for help, working on my leadership skills and stuff like that.”

As for the injury, Diggs didn’t elaborate too much, but Notre Dame fans shouldn’t worry about his long-term health and he’ll be back sooner than later.

“I got a little lower-body injury,” Diggs said. “I don’t really want to talk about it, but it’s nothing major, just minor. I’m a couple of weeks out. Probably next week I’ll be back. I ran today (Thursday). I felt really good, and I’ll be back practicing and in drills next week.”

The Louisiana native would prefer to be on the field, but he’s been through adversity a few times over his first two seasons at Notre Dame. Last year, it was a labrum surgery following the spring game and his freshman year, Diggs was on track to play early and then he got sick, which knocked his development back a few weeks during the season.

“Freshman year,” stated Diggs when asked about facing adversity. “Coming in early I had a really good fall camp, really good summer, was supposed to play immediately. I had the opportunity that I was blessed with to be able to play my freshman year. I came in and was supposed to play week one and I ended up getting sick.”

It was a frustrating moment for Diggs as he made a college decision without ever talking to a coach on campus (COVID), never seeing a game inside Notre Dame Stadium or meeting a coach face-to-face. Oh, and he picked South Bend over staying in the South.

Diggs could have sulked, but he turned it into a moment that could benefit him for years to come.

“That was hard, working so hard in the offseason,” explained Diggs. “After my high school season working from January all the way ’til August, trying to be ready to play for the first season of college football. You finally feel like you got there and there’s one step backward.

“That was a long process of me trying to battle back mentally, but over time the people here and the culture around here, it embraces you. So, it was real easy for me to snap back out of it.”

Over the last year, Notre Dame’s athletics and Diggs have started to work with several organizations around South Bend, including Cultivate Food Rescue, which is a non-profit devoted to organizing community resources to fight hunger and reduce food waste.

The time spent around the organization has not only been rewarding for Diggs, but it keeps things in perspective.

“It allows you to think about all the things besides football,” Diggs said. “What y’all see, y’all see that we’re football players. That's what we do. That’s our job. But everybody needs that escape — not just to escape, but to bring you back to reality. It’s humbling.

“It’s easy to get a big head because of football, so doing those kinds of things helps keep everybody humble and level-headed.”

And speaking of staying level-headed, Diggs and the Irish running backs have watched Chris Tyree start to work at receiver this spring. Tyree was the one who welcomed them to the running back room and Diggs is happy to see his friend get a shot to showcase his talents more even if it’s outside the running back room.

“I got to play with Chris my freshman year and he welcomed me with open arms,” Diggs explained. “So, just to see him have success anywhere, that’s my brother. Like, without football, I love Chris. To see him have success that’s on the field is just as good as seeing him have success off the field. I love to see Chris out there running around and finally having his ability and the assets he can bring to a team being displayed.”

With Tyree working at receiver, Diggs knows more will be asked of him and Audric Estime. All three backs recorded at least 100 carries in 2022, so that adds more carries on the two-headed monster and touches for a third running back in Jadarian Price, Gi’Bran Payne or incoming freshman Jeremiyah Love.

Diggs, who is no different than most competitors, wants more touches. He’s coming off a year where he toted the rock 165 times for 820 yards and four scores, so Diggs could be in line for a monster season with a few more touches and an improved offensive line.

“When one of us is not needed, we both understand that,” said Diggs. “It’s not personal. It’s going to be a long season. It’s going to be a real long season, so, I mean, we love having each other, pushing each other to compete to be better. Having that running back room and that depth, yeah it was good, but at the same time life’s all about challenges. It’s one step harder, but we’re all one step closer to where we want to go. It’s never going to be easy.

“If that’s a challenge that presented to myself, and that we need to take us to the next level, then we’re going to embrace it.”