Growing isn’t something new to Notre Dame running back Nolan James Jr.
James, who currently checks in at 215 pounds, used to be much smaller as a freshman in high school.
“Probably like 160 pounds,” said James. “I'm sure that's not tiny for a freshman. We played in a pretty serious league in high school. There's a lot of D1 recruits, so compared to the other running backs and linebackers, I was a little bit light at the time.”
While physical growth is something that is outside of James’s control, growth as a football player is in his control.
When Notre Dame suffered its first loss to No. 8 BYU this season, James knew he and the Irish needed to learn and grow from the loss, especially heading into a bye week.
“We had more time to sit on it,” said James. “We had a whole other week with no other opponents, just to kind of sit with the film, sit with emotions of it. I think we just got to play better as an offense.
“They have great guys, great players. They schemed us up well. But I think that is just about what we got to do better. I think that's been the focus as a team, as a room, as personally, just small things we got improve on and just working on that during the bye week until this week.”
Not being able to play complementary football and take advantage of red zone opportunities are some of the things that James thinks the Irish need to improve on.
“I think towards the second half, maybe I'm not in as much of a rhythm, just going play by play,” said James. “Yeah, I'd say that's probably the biggest thing. For the first half, I was in a pretty good rhythm. Things were clicking.
“Second half, they got some stops. We had some three-and-outs. It's kind of just mentally checking to the next play and knowing this is a new play. Every play has a new life and not bringing the last play to the next play.”
One area where James has excelled on the football field is as a receiver due to his formerly smaller stature.
Against any team, but especially teams like BYU, James’s ability to be a receiver out of the backfield is something unique he feels he brings to the table.
“That's something I've always prided myself on,” said James “Like I said, freshman year, that's when it started, but all throughout high school and even last year, like in the games we never did it, but in practice, always working on receiver stuff, off-season working on receiver stuff.
“I think it just makes it a little bit more dynamic for not just me, but if any guy can go out there in the slot and spread the defense out and create mismatches.”
James’s ability to get yards after contact also makes him a better yards-after-catch receiver due to the similar nature of the tasks, but each is still unique.
“I think it's very similar, but there is some nuances to it that make it a little bit different,” said James. “The transition from the catch to the run is maybe something that some people may struggle with, as opposed to just having it in your hand the whole time. But I do think it is similar.
“Once the ball is in your hands, you are running back. That goes for every position. So I think there are similarities and there are differences. On that fourth down catch, you had to pick up some yards after you caught the ball.”
According to James, the thing that the Irish need to improve as they head into their game versus Navy is simple—win.
However, to do that, the Irish offense needs to get back on track and get into a rhythm against the Midshipmen.
“I think most importantly is getting a win, getting back on the win column,” said James. “But it's just establishing that flow again as an offense. Second half probably didn't go the way, not probably, didn't go the we wanted to go as an offense. I think we just get in that rhythm, get in that flow so we feel good going until the end of the season.”
Another opportunity for growth against Navy might be getting James and fellow running back Jonaz Walton on the field at the same time.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman thinks there’s a way and that the Irish offense can get the two backs on the field.
“There's a way,” said Freeman. “We haven't done that yet, but there could be a way. We want to get Jonaz on the field more. Kind of similar to the wide receivers question. You have him going in the fourth series or third series, I think he got in maybe.
“Actually, the end of the second in the first half. He got in at the end of the second, and then the third series we go three-and-out. Next, it's a two-minute situation where who's our most reliable back right there? You're going to use more in protection, right? You're not going to hand the ball off in a two-minute situation much. A lot of that is predicated based on the situation.
“Even in the second half, I think, the first series he was in, we went three-and-out. That limits the opportunities that he gets. But we've got to make sure we don't go three-and-out in those situations more than anything so that he does have an opportunity to get the ball in his hands more.”
Improving from a loss can be difficult, but James is not letting a poor call at the end of a game ruin his focus.
“Personally, I kind of didn't put much stake in that,” said James. “Like you can make up a million excuses, you can say there was a second, it was P.I., whatever. There's always going to be something you can say. But like there's plenty of ways we could have improved and we could've won that game on different plays, so I don't even play any stake in there or much weight on it.”
Now it’s up to James and the Irish to grow from and improve on their mistakes in Provo and get into a rhythm against Navy in Boston this Saturday.
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