Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football Pregame Quote, 12/28/2021

How has the running back room sort of embraced this opportunity with Kyren Williams not playing in the Fiesta Bowl?

Yes, we see a great opportunity. Kyren was such a big piece in our offense. That’s where we got a lot of our energy from. Just all three of us really, Audric [Estime], Logan [Diggs] and myself, we see a really big opportunity this weekend, just making plays and just finding our role on our offense.

You are one of the most electric running backs in the nation. And that duo with you and Kyren Williams together, one of the most electric running back duos in the nation, what did playing alongside Kyren teach you about being a running back? Can you just tell me what he taught you?

Yes, I would just say there’s a wave of consistency that you have to have as an every-down back. I have learned that as I played with Kyren and just being in the room with him. He has a lot of great habits that set the standard for what we have to do in the future.

And honestly, just learning from him and just being in the room with him, I’m pretty confident in myself and the other guys with me. So I felt pretty good about it.

Chris, now that the turf toe is in the rearview mirror finally, how much of a hindrance was that for you? And what were some of the things that kind of limited you from being able to do it at the level that you wanted to do them? 

Yeah, honestly, I don’t think I would wish turf toe on my worst enemy. It was a really tough injury for me. But just working with Rob [Hunt], working with the training staff and getting back healthy was my main goal. And that’s where I’m at right now. I feel really good.

Chris, you talked about the energy that Kyren [Williams] brought. That’s not exactly the type of player you are, I think that’s fair to say. Do you try to express yourself maybe more and try to replace that, or is that something you guys just have to sort of create on your own and be self-motivated in that way?

Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me is understanding we are all of our own unique players and we all have our own personalities. So just being able to fit into that role with my own personality and bring my own style to it is what I’m trying to do right now.

I actually had a follow-up on the offense in terms of the improvement you guys made in the second half of the season. What do you think the biggest keys to that were? And do you think this game is sort of an opportunity that lets you sort of stress-test that against a more formidable defense than maybe some of the groups you saw in November?

I would say over the course of the season, our biggest focus was just doing the little things right every play. That’s where the explosives happen is when someone breaks to the second level and the receiver is blocking, he’s finishing his block, just little things like that.

So just being able to master that and become experts at doing the little things right, that’s what brought our success throughout the course of the season.

Chris, can you talk about your development as a running back this year, especially being out of the lineup? What was the biggest learning curve for you this year? And obviously, a chance on Saturday to showcase your talents one final time this season?

Yes, I would say, just throughout the time that I was out, I was, one, trying to recover and trying to get back; but, two, being a leader. I realize that it was pretty hard for Kyren out there and he was pretty much the only back out there. But once Logan came in, just really understood his role and took advantage of it, I understood that there’s so many people in that room that could do the same thing.

We’re all capable of taking on the lead role. So I just had to make sure that everyone was prepared and had to make sure that the young guys were ready to go.

Chris, I was interested a little bit about Audric [Estime] and Logan Diggs. You have sort of spent a lot of time with them over the course of the year. How have they developed the most, and what is sort of the different vibe that they bring to the running back room?

I would say they both bring ‚Äì like I said earlier, their own personality, their own styles to the game. They are both really beneficial to our offense, and I think that with all three of us being together and all three of us rotating, it will be really exciting to see. So I’m excited for the game.

Yes, Chris, this is a bit of an off-the-wall question but since you spent a lot of time getting treatment with Rob Hunt, are you aware that Rob Hunt is the strongest connection between Notre Dame and Oklahoma State, since he was the football trainer there for about ten years?

I did not know that, actually. With my injury, I spent a lot of time in there and a lot of time with Rob and meeting all of those guys. But I had no idea about that. Learn somebody new every day.

Chris, expanding on Pete’s question on Audric [Estime]. Outside of his power, what type of player is he and has any part of his game surprised you at all?

Yes, I think from just pictures and seeing him on the field, you would think that he’s a big bruiser that’s really stiff and just has straight power. But after watching him, I think everyone sees that he can do a lot more than that ‚Äì he’s not just a bruiser. So that was really exciting to see.

Chris, going off the whole dynamic with Logan [Diggs] and your turf toe injury that you mentioned, what was it like, one, watching him and wanting the best for him, and seeing him go off in the way he did? But also realizing while you were sidelined that that could have been you. You were supposed to have this huge season alongside of Kyren [Williams] and it just didn’t go the way you wanted it to because of the turf toe. So what was it it like balancing all of those different emotions you were likely feeling throughout this up-and-down season?

I was honestly really excited for Logan, just seeing him come in and have so much success. I mean, I understand what it’s like being able to come in as a freshman and just have a role in the offense. But honestly, I really didn’t have time to think about where I would be and if I was on the field or anything like that. I was really just congratulating their success and trying to get back and recover.