ja’ juan seider has a clear plan for his running backs

When new Fighting Irish running back coach Ja’ Juan Seider departed Penn State, he knew he was stepping into an uber talented running back room. However, he also knew that he would be challenged to gain the trust of young men that had strong ties and belief in former running back coach Deland McCullough, who departed South Bend for a similar position with the Las Vegas Raiders of the NFL. Coach Seider met with the assembled media and laid out his plan for his room during spring practice.

“Let's make the rep count because we in spring,” Seider explained. “We’re still in the process of learning new teaching, new read keys. I mean a bunch of newness, right? So we talked early when we first got here being uncomfortable and now it's time for us to be comfortable as a group and I think we're starting to get to that point where they trust me, I trust them and it's evolving.”

Seider’s Nittany Lion backfiield tandem combined for 2207 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns on the ground last year. By comparison, the top two Notre Dame running backs combined for 1871 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground. Notre Dame also got contributions from Freshman Aneyas Williams who thrived as the third down back. He rushed for 219 yards and two touchdown in addition to 18 receptions for 172 yards. The depth and versatility is an incredible luxury for Seider, but he feels that the room will go as the best player in the room goes.

Notre Dame RB Coach Ja’ Juan Seider

“Then with a guy like Jeremiyah who's obviously on a natural scale,” Seider said. How do you push in on this? Listen, my whole life and philosophy, how I grew as a coach, it doesn't matter if you are a national player, you coach your best players hard because if you don't, you fell on that kid in that moment, he don't improve, right? Last year is last year, nobody cared about last year. This is a new year. We talked about new year, new us. I wasn't here, nobody cares what Jeremiyah Love last year, it’s what Jeremiyah Love is going to do this year. So that's kind of been our mindset because you have to have a growth mindset, otherwise you could complain.”

That's definitely the type of coaching great players like Jeremiyah Love want because it sets the stage for evolution. You want to be able to take your game up from the next level, read keys and change the game, but your knowledge is supposed to expand and grow. Seider definitely seem like a coach that's going to promote that in new and fresh way. He has to keep the running backs on their toes and continue to push these guys forward so that they don't get comfortable in the sense that they can rely on the things that they could get away with last year. Whenever you're in a new relationship, there's a lot of proving that has to take place in regaining or building trust, and Seider’s design for his players seems to be resonationg. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price both spoke about Seider’s playing experience as a quarterback and how it gives them both a new pre-snap perspective and understanding that they look forward to implementing in spring and fall practices.

One difference from last season for a talented six man room may be the usage of Jeremiyah Love on third downs and in clutch moments;

“I mean it's hard to go in a game, say you're going to play six, Seider explained. “ To me, that's impossible. I can always go back to what I'd done in 19. I had four freshmen hadn't separated they self, so we were trying to figure out who was going to be the guy and then eventually we had a kid named Jamie Brown, separate from everybody and then became a star player. And then you kind of balance even you got a star player. He shouldn't take every snap, right? He need balance. He need to be fresh for the fourth quarter. He need to be fresh for game winning situations. So here we got a good depth because you got Jay Love, you got your JaDarian, you got Gi’ Bran, you got Aneyas and you got Kedren. All those guys play. You just got to find out how you're going to fit those guys.”

‘27 qb trae taylor is okay with notre dame’s process

Notre Dame’s plan for quarterbacks in the 2027 class has been

mysterious to say the least, especially when “Pot of Gold” offers

concluded on March 17 th without zero offers being extended to signal

callers. Several of those highly ranked signal callers would be visiting

South Bend in the days to come, and one of those highly ranked

prospects was four-star 6-3 195-pound quarterback Trae Taylor of

Mundelein (Ill.) Carmel Catholic. When Taylor released his top five

schools in mid-February, the Fighting Irish were notably absent from the

list and there is a simple explanation as to why they were excluded.

“They were very understanding of why I didn’t have ND in the top 5,”

Taylor told LLM. “I can’t put a school in who hasn’t offered.

But best believe if I'm not committed, I’ll keep doing my due diligence

with other schools.”

Taylor and his father arrived in South Bend this past Friday with clear

plans. They were intent on viewing the practice to see how the offense

looked being led by the current quarterbacks amid a highly contested

battle, having a conversation with head coach Marcus Freeman and

Gino Guidugli, and assurances of an open line of communication. His

checklist was accomplished during the visit, and he couldn’t be more

pleased with the results.

“The practice was really good and fast,” Taylor elaborated. “I can see the

changes being made for the quarterbacks in that room now. I see myself

in the offense and it fits me. Coach (Mike) Denbrock told me let’s do

Jayden Daniels’ things together.

“Had a good talk with Coach Freeman,” Taylor continued. “He just said

I’m a priority and the process for quarterbacks is different, and that I

need to be somewhere where the coach has my back. We also talked

about what comes with being a Notre Dame quarterback.”

2027 QB Trae Taylor and Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman

Those conversations also yielded when an offer may be forthcoming,

and the smooth passer isn’t bothered one bit by the direction the

Fighting Irish have chosen.

“Sounds like no quarterbacks will be offered until May,” Taylor stated.

Coach Guidugli will go out and watch the quarterbacks throw at the end

of April, and then the offers will go out. They said I’ll be their first stop on

the way out.

“My commitment date is still June 6 th ,” Taylor continued. “So many have

asked me if I’m turned off by not having the offer. The answer is NO. As

long as the communication is there and the relationship is building, I’m

good. If the offer comes, then great. If not, I’ve built relationships with

some great people. Who knows where our paths may cross again.”

The Fighting Irish staff is not bruised because of Taylor’s top 5 schools.

They respect how Taylor has handled his recruitment, and the visit

seems to have intensified things on both sides moving forward. Taylor is

looking forward to the rest of the process and deciding on his school.

“I’ll be ready when they come to see me,” Taylor shared. “All the

coaches said they loved how I handled my recruitment, and they

appreciated it. They loved how I’m moving forward, not waiting but being

flexible.

“I started going to game day visits in 5 th grade,” Taylor continued. “I

started going to college camps in 6 th and my first offer was in 7 th . I’ve

been doing this for a long time, so I know what i want from a school and

program. That’s why I went back to Notre Dame. They offer what I want

on and off the field. I can’t believe it’s all about to be over. Once I

commit, I’m done unless the staff leaves.”

SHAUN M. DAVIS

Lucky Lefty Media