‘You can’t put a Price tag on that’: Jadarian Price Continuing Explosive Season

Most teams across the country would kill to have an elite level running back. In South Bend, Notre Dame has a whole room full of them. To have the ability to evenly spread out carries among the backfield has been a major key in the Irish’s success in the ground game this season. 

For Notre Dame, junior running back Jadarian Price provides a luxury not seen in many programs in college football. The ability to have a one-two punch of Jeremiyah Love and Price spells disaster for many opposing defenses. 

“A huge luxury, obviously, to have Jadarian there when you need him,” offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said. “Even if he was the only one there, you would be very happy with the type of talent and explosiveness and ability to make very timely, big runs. I couldn't even, you know, put a price tag on how valuable he's been to what we do. 

“I mean, every time the ball is in his hands, something really good seems to happen. And he's done that all year.”

Typically, anybody playing at this level in college football would want as many touches as possible, hoping to maximize their potential. But for this group they trust in the process that running backs coach Deland McCullough has created in order to get the most out of his backs. 

“We kind of did it even last year,” Price said. “We have a main guy, but you also had four other guys rotate in, so we're kind of used to it. It's really just trust in the process. I didn't have a problem with it. Jeremiyah didn't have a problem with it. And even the young guys are stepping up, they don't have a problem as well. Because when your opportunity comes, at least you're 100% and you're fresh, and you're going out there and giving your best shot.” 

The split carry system between Love, Price and freshman Aneyas Williams has allowed all three guys to remain relatively fresh at this point in the season, a rarity considering the position. 

“The way coach McCullough does it, it really has helped our bodies,” Price said. “And I feel like the world can see that. And I do feel like the time we had off that we've just played a game last week, but I do feel fresher than I was midway through the season.”

That freshness paid off for Price back on Nov. 30 when Love went down with a knee injury against USC. The Denison, Texas native stepped right into the No. 1 role and shined in Los Angeles, rushing the ball 12 times for 111 yards and a touchdown. 

“Coach says, ‘Hold serve,’ when it's your turn to go out there and make something happen as well,” Price said. “So I like what we're doing in the running back room, and we're continuing to get better every day.”

And there is no bad blood between the running back duo either. Price knows that Love is a special talent, and that fact also fuels Price too. 

“I tell him every day before practice, before every game, continue to show that you're the best in the country,” Price said. “He believes that, and I continue to challenge him every day, and it just makes me feel even better about myself.” 

Price also made sure to give respect to the guys leading the charge in front of him, creating those gaps that he is able to explode through. After all, head coach Marcus Freeman preaches that Notre Dame is an O-line, D-line driven program, and Price recognizes that. 

“You got to give those guys some credit,” Price said. “We're an O line, D line driven program. They bust their tails every day in practice and in the game. They're always getting cuts and bruises and they're the reason we've had so much success in the running back room. So we’ll continue to challenge them. And I feel like it's a long season, but they're continuing to get better as a group.” 

With Georgia in the Sugar Bowl up next, it’ll be all hands on deck for the Irish running back room, and Price knows it won’t be an easy challenge. 

“They're aggressive, they have a lot of size,” Price said. “We’ve faced big D-linemen before, but they got some big (linebackers) and we got to get up there and get good position in the pass game and in the run game. So we're up for a challenge.

“(We’re) really excited,” Price said. “The whole locker room, the whole coaching staff. I mean, you come to Notre Dame and play teams like this, and be on the big stage, millions of millions of people watching. So, we’re really excited.”