Nolan James Jr. Not Focused on RB1 Label as Notre Dame Backfield Opens Up

Nolan James Jr. spent the first three weeks of the season listed as Notre Dame’s backup running back. This week’s depth chart for Saturday’s game at Purdue put an “or” between him and Aneyas Williams, following James’s breakout performance last weekend against Michigan State. The sophomore running back, however, isn’t focusing on the depth chart.

The Notre Dame running game in general has struggled, but James has found the most success on the Irish backs. Williams opened the year with 90 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries against Wisconsin and stayed ahead of James through Rice. Against Michigan State, the workload flipped. James carried 26 times for 121 yards and a touchdown, while Williams ran nine times for 25 yards and a score. Through three games, James now had more yards and attempts than Williams – 169 yards on 39 carries to Williams’ 144 on 38.

The 26 carries against the Spartans were more than James had in the first two games combined, and the 121 yards were the first 100-yard game of his career.

James Sees the Breakthrough as a Starting Point

“I’ve kind of always, my whole life, prided myself on getting stronger as the defense gets a little bit weaker,” James said. “I think probably going to that second half, I felt like that drive coming out of the second half, I feel like I really got myself in a groove. And once that happens, you’re just establishing a momentum. Just keep riding that wave.”

The drive James referenced was Notre Dame’s 17-play, 77-yard drive on their first possession of the second half. It ended with a field goal instead of a touchdown, but it milked the third quarter clock and helped kill the momentum Michigan State had started to build at the end of the first half.

James’ milestone, however, did not seem to register as much as what comes next.

“It was cool to get that 100 yards,” James said. “But honestly it just feels really motivating to me. Like I just was really focused getting here and just have a good day at practice. Like it just makes me want to go get more. Like I’m nowhere near satisfied with that.”

Notre Dame got the ball with 5:02 left in the game and didn’t give it back. The Irish ran 10 plays coverign 49 yards and ended the game kneeling the football. Before the kneel downs, James ran the ball on 8 straight plays picking up 43 of his 121 yards in the process.

“I think we established that we could really, like that last drive, we ended the game on our terms,” James said. “We haven’t really shown that a whole lot this year. I think that’s a positive thing.”

The Rotation Is Not His Focus

Asked about the possibility of starting at Purdue, James said the order of the rotation is not something he focuses on.

“Honestly, to me it doesn’t really matter much whether I go out first or second or if I get the fourth series or the first series,” he said. “Like I know when I get in there I got to do my job. Who goes out there first really doesn’t matter to me. Like as long as when I get in there I just know I got to do my job and take care of my responsibilities.”

James was also asked about competing with Williams, a close friend, for the job.

“I think honestly we both value it ’cause we’re both getting better,” James said. “Like if I wasn’t competing with him, he goes and competes with me. So I don’t think that either of us would be getting better. So I think we know we’re both pushing each other, and I think we both see that as a positive thing.”

Backfield Battle Still Tied to the Line

Whoever gets the carries will only go as far as the offensive line allows, and that group is still settling in three games into the season. Anthonie Knapp, one of the returning pieces, has moved to a different spot.

“It’s a somewhat new group,” James said. “Like even Knapp, who’s been here, he’s in a different spot. So I think it takes time for guys to gel. And we’re not panicking. Like we know it’s going to take some time to gel and everybody to get used to their spots, and I think we’ll just continue to ascend and we’ll be fine by the end of the year.”

Whether or not Notre Dame has found something in the second half that’s sustainable or not we’ll get a clue of tomorrow against Purdue. The Boilermakers are not very good, but neither is Rice and Notre Dame struggled to run it against the Owls. If Notre Dame comes out and runs the ball effectively early, the Irish ground game could be turning the corner and James could be leading the charge.