'24 MO RB Aneyas Williams (Notre Dame Signee)

[Dale]

If Aneyas is coming back and Kedren is healthy, I think adding a RB transfer would be a giant waste of money.

Look at Jadyn Ott and Makhai Hughes.

 

[BeatSC]

Guessing:

Kedren has been injury plagued in his first two years and has never looked like a frontrunner for short yardage despite his massive build.

A. Williams served an excellent role last year but this year (injury) hasn't done anything.

N. James' name keeps being brought up in a glowing fashion. Not in a perfunctory way but casually dropped as someone who has impressed the staff over and over again.

Walton and Osborne both look like studs.

If I were guessing: One of Williams/Young will transfer but I hope not. N. James will get 1a or 1b carries. One of the other freshmen will be the other 1 designee. My hope is all of them stay and fight to make the best RB room 2 years in a row (maybe 3).

Disagree on Kedron comment. The fee Carrie’s he’s had he runs low hard and fast. Hits the hole and was never a chance of being stood up and pushed back. Have not seen anyone hit the hole as hard and low yet. Don’t know how good the newcomers will be. Hopefully they can enroll early and be part of spring camp and the blue gold game. Price stood out in that game his first spring here and also got hurt that camp as I remember.

 

[maxwell]

Disagree on Kedron comment. The fee Carrie’s he’s had he runs low hard and fast. Hits the hole and was never a chance of being stood up and pushed back. Have not seen anyone hit the hole as hard and low yet. Don’t know how good the newcomers will be. Hopefully they can enroll early and be part of spring camp and the blue gold game. Price stood out in that game his first spring here and also got hurt that camp as I remember.

Watching Javian Osborne recent game film against high level competition, hard not to see him contributing next year, super dynamic and natural RB

 

[KyfightingIrish36]

IIRC wasn’t there smoke of him potentially transferring out after spring? If so, I don’t see how he would stay after this year with marginal playing time.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Disagree on Kedron comment. The fee Carrie’s he’s had he runs low hard and fast. Hits the hole and was never a chance of being stood up and pushed back. Have not seen anyone hit the hole as hard and low yet. Don’t know how good the newcomers will be. Hopefully they can enroll early and be part of spring camp and the blue gold game. Price stood out in that game his first spring here and also got hurt that camp as I remember.

You can disagree but I'm not stating an opinion or at least I'm not intending to do that. The coaches have never even hinted at him being the short yardage back. He's been here 2+ years. Maybe he is that back and he'll prove it after recovery. I would love nothing more because I really liked his high school film. Thought he had great vision.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I hate taking a RB transfer, but we really should go all out in the portal as we’re gonna have seemingly a real chance at a title in 2026. Wild to type lol.

Disagree here. Unless there is a monster RB in the portal, and I don't mean a group of 5 player or a top 20 RB.

I think the staff should put that money on higher value positions that we aren't as well-stocked, specifically DL. We have some excellent players who might break out but I'd go big game hunting for:

1. DT
2. DE
3. Nickel
4. Elite WR
5. Elite TE

Thinking of what we have on the roster + the incoming class that is way more frontloaded than we're used to, I don't think we need to spend on the secondary or LB. Just way too much talent.

Probably not the place for this discussion but total money spent matters, there are real ledgers that must be balanced.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Disagree here. Unless there is a monster RB in the portal, and I don't mean a group of 5 player or a top 20 RB.

I think the staff should put that money on higher value positions that we aren't as well-stocked, specifically DL. We have some excellent players who might break out but I'd go big game hunting for:

1. DT
2. DE
3. Nickel
4. Elite WR
5. Elite TE

Thinking of what we have on the roster + the incoming class that is way more frontloaded than we're used to, I don't think we need to spend on the secondary or LB. Just way too much talent.

Probably not the place for this discussion but total money spent matters, there are real ledgers that must be balanced.

Highly unlikely we go after any DB’s in the portal

 

[zelezo vlk]

Picking up a RB in the transfer portal seems against the thought ISD has had about not allocating too much NIL money to one position. Even with Love and Price leaving, bringing in a guy worth his salt will take a pretty penny and then you're probably aggravating the current guys. Seider doesn't seem to use more than 2 backs so the transfer would assumingly take 1 of those.

 

[Rocketman84]

Watching Javian Osborne recent game film against high level competition, hard not to see him contributing next year, super dynamic and natural RB

He will absolutely see some carries as a FR

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

RB room is stacked. Spend the money on the d-line.

 

[allenm5333]

Disagree here. Unless there is a monster RB in the portal, and I don't mean a group of 5 player or a top 20 RB.

I think the staff should put that money on higher value positions that we aren't as well-stocked, specifically DL. We have some excellent players who might break out but I'd go big game hunting for:

1. DT
2. DE
3. Nickel
4. Elite WR
5. Elite TE

Thinking of what we have on the roster + the incoming class that is way more frontloaded than we're used to, I don't think we need to spend on the secondary or LB. Just way too much talent.

Probably not the place for this discussion but total money spent matters, there are real ledgers that must be balanced.

Agree with 1 and 2. No need for a Nickel. I do think we can get an elite WR this year bc of $ and the Carr factor. TE you may want a depth piece but like what we have now and coming in.

 

[OhioIrish]

I think it is an absurd notion that ND will bring in a transfer at RB next year. There are 3 starter-level players cooling their heels in back of the best two backs in the country and the Irish freshmen next year are the best two-back recruiting haul in recent memory. And we had the number 1 HS back in the country on hand to watch ND gain 300+ on the ground leaning ND and he’s now leaning toward the good guys. There isn’t a transfer out there who would be guaranteed to be in the two deep. This is silly.

Most years I might agree, but next year is a high-potential NC year. Assuming Love and Price move on, MF will bring in at least one proven P4-level stud. I have no doubt our depth is good/great, but would be crazy not to add an elite talent.

 

[Free Manera]

RB room is stacked. Spend the money on the d-line.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Ehh we will need a go too WR more than a RB next year. Might need 2 WR’s gotta replace Fields and Pauling production. If Young doesn’t take a step you need another DE for sure

 

[irishandy]

To keep Price next season ND will need to give him the right Price to stay; given the season he's had I think he will go pro.

If Williams can stay patient and wait his time post Love & Price, he will be our #1 back next season.

 

[allenm5333]

To keep Price next season ND will need to give him the right Price to stay; given the season he's had I think he will go pro.

If Williams can stay patient and wait his time post Love & Price, he will be our #1 back next season.

I still wonder if payne wld wait it out and try next year, i think he’s solid.

 

[Ricochet]

I still wonder if payne wld wait it out and try next year, i think he’s solid.

He was getting rave reviews in the spring of 2024 before his injury, Payne was going to be the 3rd down back and Aneyas was going to be RB #5 just because his skill set was so similar to Payne's. They thought the world of Kedren Young and had a role for him before he injured his hamstring and asked for a Red-Shirt season

 

[NorthDakota]

Picking up a RB in the transfer portal seems against the thought ISD has had about not allocating too much NIL money to one position. Even with Love and Price leaving, bringing in a guy worth his salt will take a pretty penny and then you're probably aggravating the current guys. Seider doesn't seem to use more than 2 backs so the transfer would assumingly take 1 of those.

Just seems unnecessary too. This isnt Notre Dame circa 2012 where we have Cam McDaniel or something getting reps

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Just seems unnecessary too. This isnt Notre Dame circa 2012 where we have Cam McDaniel or something getting reps

I don’t know. We’ve seen what elite backs can do for our offense. We don’t really know if Williams or the others can be elite, but if they’re not getting on the field at all this year…

Unless one of the freshmen is “that guy,” then I think we go after a top back for the right price/fit.

 

[LifelongFan]

I honestly expect James and Osborne to really compete for minutes next year too. I'd be shocked to take a transfer unless a certified star was trying to come here (not impossible with this offense tbh).

 

[IrishTusker]

What is the advantage of only using the two backs? Is there a reason we don't use Williams on short-yardage plays or something?

 

[SportsingHard]

What is the advantage of only using the two backs? Is there a reason we don't use Williams on short-yardage plays or something?

You've got two superstars playing half-time. They don't need rest. I see no reason to play anybody else unless the game's out of reach.

 

[Dale]

Nothing about Aneyas Williams screams better than Love in short yardage

 

[stlnd01]

You've got two superstars playing half-time. They don't need rest. I see no reason to play anybody else unless the game's out of reach.

I generally agree. We don't need to feed him carries when we barely seem to have enough touches to go around for our primary six skill guys (Love/Price/Fields/Faison/Pauling/Raridon) as it is.
But I do wonder if Williams might be a good change-of-pace in short yardage. Maybe worth a try given our struggles there. He is also an excellent blocker.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Nothing about Aneyas Williams screams better than Love in short yardage

Price hasn’t been great in short yardage this year and in 34 carries Williams actually had a higher YPC than Price did last year

 

[GoIrish41]

What is the advantage of only using the two backs? Is there a reason we don't use Williams on short-yardage plays or something?

Love and Price are better than Williams. It’s pretty simple. What is the advantage of playing the third (or fourth) best back when the two best backs watch from the sideline?

 

[arrowryan]

Nothing about Aneyas Williams screams better than Love in short yardage

There’s no advantage to using Price over Love in short yardage or goal to go situations either, but here we are.

 

[Bane]

I can't believe people are really pounding the table for our two NFL tier RBs to play less. And if they got their wish, half the fanbase would have a meltdown. There are people who are still complaining about Love's lack of touches in the week 1 game. We have maybe the two very best RBs in the entire nation, that is why the other guys aren't getting touches.

 

[Dale]

Price hasn’t been great in short yardage this year and in 34 carries Williams actually had a higher YPC than Price did last year

There’s no advantage to using Price over Love in short yardage or goal to go situations either, but here we are.

Price gets those carries on his drives/when Love gets tired. It’s not a proactive usage of Price as a short yardage back, which was the suggestion for Williams. There is a rhythm to playing RB and I have no issue with leaving in Price, given the extraordinary leap he has taken this year. He needs to clean up the fumbles, no doubt.

 

[IrishTusker]

I can't believe people are really pounding the table for our two NFL tier RBs to play less. And if they got their wish, half the fanbase would have a meltdown. There are people who are still complaining about Love's lack of touches in the week 1 game. We have maybe the two very best RBs in the entire nation, that is why the other guys aren't getting touches.

So why are we among the worst teams in the country in red zone/short yardage situations? They haven't been able to get 1 yard on 3rd & 1 or 4th & 1 situations multiple times this year. Plus JP's fumbles. It may not be the RBs, of course -it could be the OL- but something is off when you have such a great running game and can't get a yard when it matters.