Jadarian Price is a running back and 2026 NFL Draft prospect who played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. A native of Denison, Texas, Price committed to Notre Dame as a four-star recruit in the 2022 class, choosing the Fighting Irish over Ohio State, Texas, and USC. He missed his entire true freshman season after suffering a ruptured Achilles during summer workouts, then returned in 2023 to play a rotational role, rushing for 272 yards and three touchdowns while beginning to build his presence in the backfield and on special teams. In 2024, with fellow back Audric Estim departed, Price served as the complement to Jeremiyah Love, rushing for 746 yards and seven touchdowns on 120 carries at 6.2 yards per carry. In 2025, despite continuing to share the backfield with Love, Price erupted for 15 total touchdowns in 12 games, rushing for 674 yards and 11 touchdowns on 113 carries while adding two receiving scores and two kickoff return touchdowns, including return scores against USC and Purdue. He declared for the 2026 NFL Draft after the season, finishing his Notre Dame career with 1,692 rushing yards, 36 touchdowns, and recognition as a dynamic all-purpose weapon on one of college football's most decorated programs.
Standing 5-11 and 209 pounds with a 4.49 40-yard dash time at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Price brings a well-rounded profile that blends decisive running, legitimate contact balance, and rare special teams upside. He is a patient one-cut runner with strong vision to identify and press holes before accelerating with urgency, and his leg drive and contact balance allow him to fall forward consistently and generate yards after first contact. His receiving ability out of the backfield, pass protection awareness, and elite kick return production give him three-phase value that elevates his floor at the next level. The questions around him center on his modest receiving volume in college and pass protection technique, but his instincts and physicality suggest both areas can develop. Price projects as an early Day 2 selection with the tools to function as a change-of-pace starter, big-play threat, and immediate special teams contributor in the NFL.
