- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 456,882
- Reaction score
- 44
Notre Dame continued its recruiting hot streak with the commitment of running back Javian Osborne, who picked the Irish over Michigan. The Forney (Texas) High School star is one of the nation's best backs and gives the Irish another highly regarded player in the 2026 class.
Let's look at how the Osborne commitment impacts the 2026 Notre Dame class, how he fits into the Irish offense and a look at what makes him one of the nation's best players.
Osborne is the 14th player to commit to Notre Dame in the 2026 class. He's the eighth offensive player to commit and the first running back in the class.
Notre Dame has recruited running back as well as any team in the country over the last five recruiting cycles. The Irish running back room is absolutely loaded, but there is a chance that Notre Dame could lose three backs from the current group when this class arrives. The potential to see half the depth chart depart after the season has Notre Dame in position to land two running backs in the 2026 class.
It's not the first time Notre Dame has needed two backs in a class, and in recent seasons those two-man groups have been big time. That is the task in front of running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider. The Irish landed Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant in the 2013 class, Josh Adams and Dexter Williams in the 2015 class, Audric Estime and Logan Diggs in the 2021 class, Jadarian Price and Gi'Bran Payne in the 2022 class, and Kedren Young and Aneyas Williams in the 2024 class.
Kicking the 2026 class off with Osborne gives Notre Dame one of the nation's best running backs, which should help the Irish continue to have a loaded running back room when he arrives. It also gives them a great start to what hopefully ends up as a two-back class.
Notre Dame's run game is down hill based, with Inside Zone, Duo and Counter being their primary runs. Even the Outside Zone in the Notre Dame offense is more of an off-tackle run than a true vertical stretch. Osborne's combination of explosiveness, vision and cutting ability perfectly suits the Irish offense. He can bounce the Duo and cutback the Zone at a very high level, and he has the home run hitting ability that Notre Dame's current backfield duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price possess. Osborne has the kind of well-built frame, power and physicality to be an every down back in the Irish defense.
Osborne is a well-built back that has the frame, size, power and running style to be an every down back. As a runner he has all the tools Notre Dame wants and needs, and he's shown the ability to be just as effective as a high carry, pound it back as he has as a big play back. He can take and deliver punishment in a way you wouldn't expect from a back his size.
Osborne has an outstanding first step, which is crucial for a college running back. He explodes out of his stance when working downhill and also shows the ability to plant and explode vertically when working stretch plays, on counter runs where he has to be patient and let his blocks set up, and when working in space. He doesn't look to have the same kind of acceleration of a back like Jeremiyah Love, but the long speed he does have combines with his initial explosiveness to make him a legit home run back.
The Forney star is an impressive all around athlete. He is a sudden athlete that changes direction with ease, and his contact balance is elite. Combine that with his strong frame, leg drive and natural power and you see why he's such a hard back to tackle, especially in space. There aren't many backs who are able to cut and run with the kind of power he does. He's able to explode on back cuts on the zone and he can bounce outside, quickly accelerate and get to the corner. His efficiency and explosive running style is incredibly impressive.
Athleticism only takes you so far. What makes Osborne one of the nation's best backs - and top players - is that he also shows an elite feel for the position. He's patient when he needs to be and takes off when he needs to. His vision and second level anticipation from the backfield is elite, and he does an excellent job setting up defenders in space. Combine that with his top-level agility and he's a nightmare to bring down in the secondary.
My only technical issue with Osborne is that he doesn’t always put the ball in his outside arm. That eliminates any chance to use a stiff arm and keep defenders. I’d like to see him correct that. In the pass game he isn't used much by Forney, but in limited opportunities he shows good hands and he's a major weapon in the screen game for all the same reasons he's dynamic as a runner.
Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge
Irish Breakdown Content
2025 Scholarship Chart
2025 Football Schedule
Notre Dame 2026 Scholarship Offers
2025 Commit Rankings - Offense
2025 Commit Rankings - Defense
2024 Recruiting Class
2023 Recruiting Class
2022 Recruiting Class
———————
Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.
BECOME A MEMBER
Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!
Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook
Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter
Continue reading...
Let's look at how the Osborne commitment impacts the 2026 Notre Dame class, how he fits into the Irish offense and a look at what makes him one of the nation's best players.
NOTRE DAME CLASS IMPACT
Osborne is the 14th player to commit to Notre Dame in the 2026 class. He's the eighth offensive player to commit and the first running back in the class.
Notre Dame has recruited running back as well as any team in the country over the last five recruiting cycles. The Irish running back room is absolutely loaded, but there is a chance that Notre Dame could lose three backs from the current group when this class arrives. The potential to see half the depth chart depart after the season has Notre Dame in position to land two running backs in the 2026 class.
It's not the first time Notre Dame has needed two backs in a class, and in recent seasons those two-man groups have been big time. That is the task in front of running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider. The Irish landed Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant in the 2013 class, Josh Adams and Dexter Williams in the 2015 class, Audric Estime and Logan Diggs in the 2021 class, Jadarian Price and Gi'Bran Payne in the 2022 class, and Kedren Young and Aneyas Williams in the 2024 class.
Kicking the 2026 class off with Osborne gives Notre Dame one of the nation's best running backs, which should help the Irish continue to have a loaded running back room when he arrives. It also gives them a great start to what hopefully ends up as a two-back class.
NOTRE DAME FIT
Notre Dame's run game is down hill based, with Inside Zone, Duo and Counter being their primary runs. Even the Outside Zone in the Notre Dame offense is more of an off-tackle run than a true vertical stretch. Osborne's combination of explosiveness, vision and cutting ability perfectly suits the Irish offense. He can bounce the Duo and cutback the Zone at a very high level, and he has the home run hitting ability that Notre Dame's current backfield duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price possess. Osborne has the kind of well-built frame, power and physicality to be an every down back in the Irish defense.
FILM ANALYSIS
Osborne is a well-built back that has the frame, size, power and running style to be an every down back. As a runner he has all the tools Notre Dame wants and needs, and he's shown the ability to be just as effective as a high carry, pound it back as he has as a big play back. He can take and deliver punishment in a way you wouldn't expect from a back his size.
Osborne has an outstanding first step, which is crucial for a college running back. He explodes out of his stance when working downhill and also shows the ability to plant and explode vertically when working stretch plays, on counter runs where he has to be patient and let his blocks set up, and when working in space. He doesn't look to have the same kind of acceleration of a back like Jeremiyah Love, but the long speed he does have combines with his initial explosiveness to make him a legit home run back.
The Forney star is an impressive all around athlete. He is a sudden athlete that changes direction with ease, and his contact balance is elite. Combine that with his strong frame, leg drive and natural power and you see why he's such a hard back to tackle, especially in space. There aren't many backs who are able to cut and run with the kind of power he does. He's able to explode on back cuts on the zone and he can bounce outside, quickly accelerate and get to the corner. His efficiency and explosive running style is incredibly impressive.
Athleticism only takes you so far. What makes Osborne one of the nation's best backs - and top players - is that he also shows an elite feel for the position. He's patient when he needs to be and takes off when he needs to. His vision and second level anticipation from the backfield is elite, and he does an excellent job setting up defenders in space. Combine that with his top-level agility and he's a nightmare to bring down in the secondary.
My only technical issue with Osborne is that he doesn’t always put the ball in his outside arm. That eliminates any chance to use a stiff arm and keep defenders. I’d like to see him correct that. In the pass game he isn't used much by Forney, but in limited opportunities he shows good hands and he's a major weapon in the screen game for all the same reasons he's dynamic as a runner.
Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge
Irish Breakdown Content
2025 Scholarship Chart
2025 Football Schedule
Notre Dame 2026 Scholarship Offers
2025 Commit Rankings - Offense
2025 Commit Rankings - Defense
2024 Recruiting Class
2023 Recruiting Class
2022 Recruiting Class
———————
Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.
BECOME A MEMBER
Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!
Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook
Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter
Continue reading...
