Summary

Jadarian Price (21 years old) is an explosive, one-cut running back who has played his entire college career at Notre Dame, emerging as one of the more dynamic big-play threats in the Irish backfield. In 2025, Price recorded 746 rushing yards on 118 carries with 7 touchdowns while adding 17 receptions for 192 yards, serving as a complementary change-of-pace option with home-run ability and averaging over six yards per carry earning him All-ACC consideration. A business major, Price has been recognized within the program for his steady academic progress and mature approach, and he is known among teammates for his quiet confidence and work ethic during rehab and recovery periods. Price’s "alpha" mindset was forged through early hardship. When he was 12, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, which forced him to step up as a caretaker for his younger sisters. He credits this period with teaching him the selflessness and maturity that teammates often cite as his strongest leadership trait. A former track standout in high school where he was a standout in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays and recorded a long jump of over 20 feet, Price’s acceleration and long-speed consistently show up on film, with Notre Dame staff often pointing to his ability to flip the field on limited touches as a defining trait. From an injury standpoint, Price suffered a significant Achilles tear early in his career that cost him the 2022 season, but he returned to appear in 36 career games with no major reoccurrences, reinforcing both his recovery and long-term durability.

Strengths

Explosive: Hits top speed quickly once he commits and turns clean lanes into chunk gains immediately. High Explosiveness score (4.50/5.00) in our metrics and potential home run hitter. Has the speed to erase angles and take runs the distance when he clears the second level.
Decisive: Can plant and get vertical quickly and doesn’t need multiple steps to redirect. Gets outside fast and can stress defenses horizontally and vertically and has enough danger in the pass game to take screens and swings for big gains.
Break Fluid: Can make subtle cuts without gearing down significantly. When he strings moves together, he can re-accelerate and separate.
Dynamo: Doesn’t need volume and can impact games on limited touches, even in the return game. By the end of the 2025 season, Price led all FBS players with a staggering 37.5-yard kickoff return average and his career average of 36.1 yards is the highest of any FBS player with at least 20 returns since the year 2000.

Weaknesses

All or Nothing: Will bypass developing interior lanes looking for bigger plays, leading to missed efficient gains. At times commits too quickly without letting blocks fully develop, especially on zone concepts. Instead of taking what’s blocked, he’ll try to stretch runs wide, allowing pursuit to catch up.
Contact Balance: Goes down more easily than expected when contacted early and not a consistent tackle-breaker inside.
Ball Security in Traffic: When fighting for extra yards or transitioning to open field, carriage can widen and he can get loose with the football. Carrying score (2.10/5.00) hurts him a bit in our metrics.
Pass Protection/Third Down Value: Still developing and can be late to diagnose or ineffective anchoring vs blitzers. Fine receiver but certainly not a defining trait of his.

Outlook

Price projects as an explosive, big-play threat with excellent acceleration, long speed, and the ability to create chunk gains in space, giving him high upside as a dynamic offensive weapon. He fits best in outside zone and spread-based offensive schemes that emphasize getting backs to the perimeter, utilizing cutback lanes, and creating mismatches in space rather than relying on consistent between-the-tackles power. Price is trending as a Day 2 prospect with a Round 2–3 projection in the 2026 NFL Draft to a team looking for a home-run hitter who can complement a backfield and add explosive play potential.

Pro Comparison: Jahvid Best

Team Fits: SEA, CIN, TB, MIN, GB

Report written by Filip Prus