Irish Breakdown

Notre Dame Recruiting: Irish Move On From Top Running Back Prospect

Monday morning, Notre Dame lost a commitment from a 2025 running back commit.

Mason Plummer

Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; A Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmets rests on the field before the game between the Fighting Irish and the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; A Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmets rests on the field before the game between the Fighting Irish and the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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Monday morning, Notre Dame 2025 running back commit Justin Thurman flipped his commitment from the Irish to Kansas. Thurman was one of the first commitments for Notre Dame in the 2025 cycle, but it seems the staff and Thurman have agreed to part ways just weeks before signing day.

The Florida product pledged to the Fighting Irish back on August 1, 2023 and had looked locked in to his commitment before flipping to the Jayhawks on November 18. Thurman was key in helping to recruit much of the 2025 class and was a regular visitor for most home games.

It seems fair to connect the dots and see that after Notre Dame flipped running back Nolan James Jr. from Boston College just a few days ago, Thurman may have decided to open up his options and be transparent with the staff.

Thurman has a lot of talent if used correctly and is among the fastest running backs in the entire country. In fact, his game reminds me a lot of what former Notre Dame tailback Chris Tyree brought to the Irish offense.

He has great straight-line speed, but struggles to break tackles or make people miss in space.

His departure leaves Notre Dame with only Nolan James Jr. committed at running back in the 2025 cycle, after the staff has parted ways with its two initial commitments at the position moving on.

Both Daniel Anderson and Justin Thurman have elected to find new homes and it seems both decisions were mutual. The staff is always evaluating how it can make the team better as a whole and at this point, fans should have ultimate confidence in running backs coach Deland McCullough to push the right buttons and get the right guys in the room.

Look for Notre Dame to make a late push for a second running back to join Nolan James Jr. in this class.

We will have all of the potential names and targets here on Notre Dame on SI.

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Mason Plummer
MASON PLUMMER

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