Jadarian Price is looking to prove the Seattle Seahawks right for making him the first running back the team has selected in the first round of the NFL draft since Rashaad Penny in 2018.
At least one of Price's former teammates believes he will be able to find high-level success in the NFL.
Jeremiyah Love, who played with Price during their time together at Notre Dame, is bullish about his former counterpart's NFL prospects, as he told USA TODAY Sports in an April interview as part of his partnership with New Balance.
"I tell everybody this. I feel like JD can do everything I can do, if not more," Love said, referring to Price by his nickname.
Love expressed confidence in Price's skills as a runner, pass-catcher and blocker. He also referred to
the 22-year-old as the best return man in the country, saying that Price returns kicks "way better than me."
That's why the No. 3 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft believes his first-round counterpart will be able to handle all that's required of an NFL running back, like himself.
"JD is a back that can do everything," Love said. "You give him a hole, he's gonna take that hole and he's gonna take it all the way to the house. JD's that type of back."
The Seahawks are certainly banking on that being the case. They drafted Price, in part, to help replace departed Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker III, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency.
Meanwhile, Walker's foil, Zach Charbonnet, is coming off a torn ACL and will miss at least the first four games of the season while on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
That should give Price an early chance to prove his former teammate turned division rival right and stake a claim to Seattle's top running back role for the foreseeable future.
Here's more to know about Price as he makes his NFL debut during the Seahawks' season opener against the New England Patriots.
Why was Jadarian Price a backup at Notre Dame?
Price operated in a backup capacity across his time at Notre Dame because he was always behind Love in the backfield pecking order.
Price redshirted in 2022 while dealing with a torn Achilles and debuted in 2023, which was Love's true freshman season. Audric Estime, a 2024 fifth-round pick by the Denver Broncos, served as the lead back that season with Love as the top backup and Price getting the third-most carries.
In both 2024 and 2025, Love operated ahead of Price, though the latter still averaged 121.5 offensive touches per season. By comparison, Love averaged 208.5 offensive touches per season.
Jadarian Price college stats
Price played three college seasons at Notre Dame but largely played second fiddle to Love. During his final season, Price logged 113 carries for 674 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 87 yards and two touchdowns on six catches. He also posted two kick return touchdowns on 12 return attempts with an FBS-best average of 37.5 yards per return.
Below is a full look at Price's stats across his three seasons with the Fighting Irish:
- Games: 41
- Carries: 280
- Rushing yards: 1,692
- Rushing TDs: 21
- Yards per carry: 6.0
- Receptions: 15
- Receiving yards: 162
- Receiving TDs: 3
- Yards per reception: 10.8
- Kick returns: 22
- Yards per return: 36.1
- Return TDs: 3
Price's strong performance helped convince the Seahawks to select him with the 32nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He was the final pick of the first round while he and Love became the first pair of college teammates to be the top two running backs selected across any draft in NFL history.
Jadarian Price preseason stats
The Seahawks opted not to play Price during the preseason. Neither he nor projected backup George Holani logged any carries as Seattle looked to keep both fresh for the start of the season amid Charbonnet's injury.
Is Jadarian Price starting Week 1?
Price is expected to be the lead back in Seattle's offense to open the season.
That said, it's worth noting that the Seahawks' official website actually lists Holani ahead of him on the depth chart for now. It isn't clear whether that is a product of Price not playing the preseason or if it is a reflection of the veteran being slightly ahead of the rookie entering the season.
Seahawks RB depth chart
Seattle currently has three running backs on the 53-man roster. Here's a look at the projected pecking order within that room to open the season:
- Jadarian Price
- George Holani
- Emanuel Wilson
Price and Holani could see a relatively even workload split early in the season. The situation could be similar to those faced by Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson as rookies in 2023, when Gibbs shared touches with David Montgomery and Robinson did the same with Tyler Allgeier.
Whenever Charbonnet returns, he will be expected to overtake Holani in the complementary role alongside Price.
The Seahawks also have Velus Jones Jr. and Jacardia Wright on the practice squad. Both are candidates to be called up to add backfield and special teams depth, if necessary.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jadarian Price was a backup in college. His former lead back expects big things
