Jadarian Price probably had his first true breakout game in the Sun Bowl against Oregon State. It was his first career 100-yard rushing day with a 54-yard run as the highlight.
However, it was his 47-yard touchdown run in the third quarter of the opening game at Texas A&M last season that proved definitively he had arrived. He made linebacker Taurean York whiff completely and gave Notre Dame the lead on their way to a huge opening week win. As the season went on he became one of the best in the country at gaining yards after contact.
If he wasn’t overshadowed by his teammate Jeremiyah Love, Price would be receiving a lot more praise heading into the 2025 season. That doesn’t seem to bother Price one bit, though. He’s kept his focus on improving in every facet heading into fall camp.
“Just continuing to get better in every phase of the game,” Price state when asked about his mindset before the season. “Just not only physically, but mentally sit back and taking mental reps. Even when I'm not in coaches, tell the young pups and the freshmen to take mental reps, but I'm a senior now. I still got to do the same thing.”
Known for his quick feet and his ability to hit the hole quickly, Price has worked on the mental side of the game this summer to have a better understanding of when to play slow and when to explode to improve his balance.
“I’ve been working on just slowing the game down,” Price admitted. “I feel like last year I would get a little frantic going into the game. Not necessarily nervous or anything like that, just too quick with my feet and not slowing the game down, letting the blocks develop.
“Just staying under control with just my square body. Just being able to make a move on someone and not get out of control and slip and forward or things like that.”
Price has been working a lot with running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider to improve his pre-snap reads and he’s said that has really helped. Seider has emphasized it this offseason and he believes that Price’s growth in that area will help him not just now, but when he moves on to the next level.
"I think you teach the game. If we just let these kids play running back and only talk about what they do with the football, then they're not growing,” Seider said. “Being able to teach him fronts and what the offensive line is blocking and showing him double teams and who he's helping on that play. You can show him what the angles are going to be so he can press.
“We always say 'slow to fast through' which is slow through the mesh and fast through the hole. He was always fast, fast, fast and he wasn't letting plays develop. I think the growth mindset, understanding fronts, how we are attacking fronts or even the back half and teaching them coverage and where they can fit has helped. That's what JD is talking about (with his preparation this offseason); he's starting to understand the big picture of football, not just playing the position of running back.”
So much of that growth is not only necessary for Price to be better, but for him to continue to be a key piece of Notre Dame’s offense. Notre Dame has so many talented running backs who are competing for touches who are looking to carve out a role alongside himself and Love. It was that combination in the second half against Texas A&M last year who ended up being huge factors in the Irish winning that game.
They know that they’re going to have a similar challenge this season on the road against Miami. That experience last season prepared them for what they’ll face on August 31.
“Just continue to take care of our body and know what's at stake,” Price said when asked about they can be ready for week one on the road like they were against A&M. “It is the same thing. It's not very new, like you said, it's down south, it's humid, it's a hostile environment, but also it means a little bit more. It's a rivalry game going back and tradition matters, so we're going to go out there and take care of business.”
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