With Notre Dame spring practice beginning later this month, CSNChicago.com is previewing each position group's depth chart and 2016 outlook. Today, we're looking at Autry Denson's running backs (each player's 2016 status is listed in parentheses).
Depth chart
1. Josh Adams (Sophomore)
2. Dexter Williams (Sophomore)
Injured: Tarean Folston (RS Junior)
Overview
Folston is coming off a torn ACL and is unlikely to take contact during spring practice, so Notre Dame’s two underclassmen will take most of the reps here. Adams exploded for a Notre Dame freshman record 835 rushing yards in 2015 and should settle into a rotation with Folston this fall. Williams rushed 21 times for 81 yards as a freshman, but showed some quickness and burst in garbage time against UMass. He’ll have harness that ability and improve as a pass blocker to carve out a role in a highly competitive backfield situation in 2016.
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The safer bet at this time last year would’ve seemed to be Williams, a four-star recruit with offers from loads of elite programs, earning carries over Adams, a lightly-recruited three-star player with mostly regional offers in the northeast. But Adams came to Notre Dame not only possessing impressive explosiveness and instincts, but an an ability to succeed in pass protection. Adams said last fall he still has things to work on in that aspect of his game, and he has strides to make as a pass catcher, but he looks to have an awfully promising future in South Bend.
Folston established himself in 2013 and 2014 as a durable, reliable running back who had 17 or more carries in eight games over those two seasons. He would’ve weighed turning pro after the 2015 season had he not suffered that season-ending injury against Texas, and by all accounts has attacked his rehab process to get back to full strength for what’ll be an important season for his NFL future this fall.
The good news is there's plenty of talent and depth at this position to replace C.J. Prosise, who declared for the NFL Draft in January after becoming Notre Dame's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2011.
Outlook
Folston should be ready to go by the time preseason camp rolls around, and between him and Adams, Notre Dame will have two established running backs at its disposal. Having them, as well as three others on the depth chart who could break through, is significant for an offense that has to replace its three most experienced offensive linemen this fall.
[MORE: C.J. Prosise cites ‘uncertainty’ in leaving Notre Dame for NFL Draft]
Incoming freshmen
Three-star Floridians Tony Jones and Deon McIntosh will head to campus this June to provide depth behind Adams and Folston. They could challenge Williams for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart, based on their overall skillset (with pass pro again being a notable part of that evaluation). Running backs coach Autry Denson called 5-foot-11, 180 pound McIntosh the “lightning” to the 5-foot-10, 219 pound Jones’ “thunder.”