In recent years, Notre Dame has consistently recruited two running backs each cycle, and it seems they will continue that trend in the 2025 cycle following the addition of Nolan James Jr.
The Irish coaching staff successfully flipped James Jr. from Boston College, marking him as the fourth player they have secured in this cycle, with hopes for more to come.
At 5-11 and 205 pounds, James Jr. is a powerful running back with surprising agility that often catches defenders off guard. His upright running style and patience in finding the right moment to advance are not common in today’s game, but once he finds a gap, his acceleration and ability to evade defenders are impressive.
Despite an appearance of smoothness that can make his speed seem deceptive, James Jr. steadily increases the distance between himself and defenders as he heads towards the end zone.
Originally committed to Boston College for nearly a year, he was swayed by Notre Dame’s intensified recruitment efforts. Running backs coach Deland McCullough aimed to secure two running backs this cycle, and after former Irish commit Daniel Anderson decommitted, Notre Dame focused entirely on James Jr. The decision paid off, and they remain committed to him.
He joins Justin Thurman as the two running backs in Notre Dame’s 2025 class, forming a complementary duo. Thurman, who was one of the first commitments in the cycle, possesses strong straight-line speed and big-play potential, while James Jr. is adept at gaining tough yards and is difficult to bring down on initial contact.
According to insiders from 247Sports and On3, James Jr. is expected to see a significant rise in his rankings before the cycle ends. Currently rated as a three-star athlete, many anticipate that he will soon enter four-star territory, potentially even high four-star status.
Moving forward, Notre Dame should consider flipping Boston College’s top commitments whenever the opportunity arises, and both Boubacar Traore and Nolan James Jr. look to be promising additions.
