Position Breakdown: Running Back

The Fighting Irish are loaded at running back going into the 2007 season. Notre Dame has four tailbacks who can carry the ball this fall. Travis Thomas, James Aldridge, Armando Allen, and Junior Jabbie are the four who will help transition from more of a pass oriented offense the past two years to power running game in '07.

Travis Thomas is a Senior from Washington, Pennsylvania who was moved out of necessity to linebacker last season. He's back full-time on offense now and should flourish in his last go-round with the Irish. He likes contact, he would rather run over you than run around you. He hits the hole and does it with good speed. Thomas had a fumbling problem in 2004 and was benched because of it. He seemed to rectify the problem in 2005 and did a nice job of relieving Darius Walker. I believe Thomas will start because he has the most experience and Head Coach Charlie Weis did not move him back to running back to sit on the bench.

James Aldridge is a Sophomore from Merrillville, Indiana. He saw limited action last year as a true Freshman. Aldridge seems to be fully recovered from an ACL tear in his knee from his junior year in high school. He is more of a power back but does have a second gear if he gets into the open. He didn't play enough last year to really get a good feel for what he can do but he was a 5-star player in the recruiting class of 2006 (the highest possible ranking). When he did play, he showed some power, which is even more impressive after learning that he was under orders not to do any lower body weight lifting last year. I think he will be second in line behind Thomas.

Armando Allen is a Freshman from Hialeah Lakes, Florida. He is a burner, something that Notre Dame hasn't had since Rocket Ismail. He just arrived on campus in January, he's an early enrollee who would be finishing up his Senior year of high school if he had decided not to come to Notre Dame early. We've only seen glimpses of him but he really looks like he has the potential to be a special player. His high school film was very impressive, the best I've seen at the running back position. Watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjdp101L-f0. He carried five times for 19 yards in the spring game, not all that impressive if you look at the numbers but I was impressed. He is lightning quick through the line, he did not dance at all, he got into and through the line is a split second. I really think Allen has a chance to be a great one but he will start this year third in line, just because he is a Freshman and the two in front of him have more experience.

Junior Jabbie is a Senior from Parlin, New Jersey who was the talk of the Blue-Gold Spring game. He ran 13 times for 87 yards and won offensive MVP. He looked like the best back on the field but he did run behind the first team offensive line, who was blocking the second team defensive line. Still, he showed good vision and elusiveness. After the game, Weis said Jabbie's performance was nothing they hadn't seen all spring, which is great to hear. Most Notre Dame fans had written Jabbie off, he came to the Irish as a cornerback but asked to be moved to tailback last year. I was pretty impressed by what he did and even though I think he'll be the fourth running back on the depth chart, he will carry the ball this year.