Notre Dame junior running back Josh Adams had an absolutely monster first quarter during his team’s 52-17 rout of the Miami Redhawks. However, an ankle injury forced him out of the game shortly after he topped 150 yards rushing in just the first eight minutes.
At that point, college football gurus observing this game could have envisioned a Melvin Gordon, Samaje Perine kind of game, until he took the knock on his foot.
“Josh could have played, his ankle is not a serious situation, but we didn’t to put him in harm’s way,” Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly said after the game.
He later said that he believes Adams will be “full go” this week.
Adams broke free for a 73-yard touchdown run on the third play of the game. He then added a 59-yard score later in the first quarter. The first touchdown was Adams’ fourth rush of at least 60 yards in 2017. Eight of Adams’ 15 career rushing touchdowns have covered at least 35 yards.
Adams went over 100 yards on only his fifth rush of the game, breaking his previous career-best of only six rushes to reach the 100-yard plateau. He finished with eight carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Here’s video of the two tuddies:
https://twitter.com/BarstoolIrish/status/914242309373521920
Notre Dame's Josh Adams to the house.
Has 5 carries for 151 yards and two TDs. https://t.co/bLskrIlDDb
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 30, 2017
Adams also passed up some huge names on the Notre Dame career rushing yards list today. The list includes “The Gipper” George Gipp, Randy Kinder and Phil carter. With 2,426 career yards rushing, he’s now zeroing on Cierre Wood for seventh place all time. His current position coach, Autry Denson, tops the chart.
Take a look:
Looks like @stadium20status is next on Josh Adams' hit list. Already passed Randy Kinder, George Gipp and Phil Carter today. #NDFB pic.twitter.com/wuI5AYUTTb
— Jude (@ndjrs) September 30, 2017
Josh Adams is the poster child for what can be accomplished when you match a player’s commitment to strength and conditioning with the program’s efforts. Notre Dame added more strength and conditioning staff, a new state of the art facility for football only and a protocol of posting individual player weight room efforts on a board for all to see.
Adams has gotten much stronger over the past couple years and you can see how much that has improved his results on the field. Josh Adams met the media after the game and he was asked several times how he’s doing. He said he’s feeling fine and feeling good.
Kelly also said during the media session that Adams deserves national recognition. He Mentions him in same sentence as Saquon Barkley.
“He’s a stud. I mean, look, Barkley is a great player at Penn State, but you know, Josh has got to start to get some kind of national recognition for the kind of season that he’s having,” Kelly said.
“He is a load. He’s a big, physical runner who gets in the open and then runs away from people. So this is a special back who’s having a special year.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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