As the 24th commitment of the 2025 recruiting class, Nolan James brings unique talent and potential to the Irish.

BREAKING NEWS: Notre Dame Football Flips Boston Top Running Back Commit

On Monday, running back Nolan James from New Jersey changed his commitment from the Boston College Eagles to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The 5’11”, 200-pound running back from DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, New Jersey, is rated as a 3-Star prospect across various rankings. However, as history has shown, running backs from New Jersey often stand out in unique ways.
2025 RB Nolan James Jr. commits to Notre Dame football
James initially committed to Boston College in December of last year, but he also received significant offers from other programs, including the Syracuse Orange, Duke Blue Devils, Minnesota Gophers, and Virginia Cavaliers.
From ISD’s Jamie Uyeyama:
I believe James has the potential to become a highly effective zone runner. The more I observe him, the more he resembles former LSU running back Derrius Guice. During the 2017 Citrus Bowl, the Irish faced Guice, who showcased his ability to run hard through contact while possessing the agility and vision to evade defenders once he broke through the line.
Notre Dame’s coaching staff deserves credit for targeting another underrated talent who could prove to be a valuable addition.
James is the 24th commitment for the 2025 Notre Dame football recruiting class. While his ranking may not be particularly eye-catching, there’s something special about running backs from Catholic schools in New Jersey.
It’s important to remember that a prospect who may need a couple of years of coaching can still be valuable; this is part of the program-building process. James possesses the skills necessary to contribute to Notre Dame’s success in the future.

2025 Notre Dame Football Commits (24)

POSITION PLAYER STATE HT WT RIVALS ESPN 247 SPORTS 247 COMPOSITE On3 On3 Consensus COMMIT DATE
DL Davion Dixon FL 6’2″ 290 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 04/21/23
RB Justin Thurman FL 6’0″ 180 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 08/01/23
DL Joseph Reiff IL 6’5″ 230 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 09/24/23
TE James Flanigan WI 6’5″ 220 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/21/23
LB Dominik Hulak IL 6’3″ 225 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 11/10/23
CB Cree Thomas AZ 6’1″ 170 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 11/21/23
OL Will Black CT 6’7″ 295 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 12/10/23
EDGE Christopher Burgess IL 6’4″ 240 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 01/06/24
S Ethan Long CT 6’2″ 185 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 01/08/24
LB Ko’o Kia HI 6’2″ 210 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 01/15/24
OL Owen Strebig WI 6’8″ 295 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 02/08/24
WR Elijah Burress NJ 6’1″ 170 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 02/10/24
OL Matty Augustine CT 6’7″ 290 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 02/20/24
WR Jerome Bettis Jr. GA 6’3″ 185 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 03/17/24
LB Anthony Sacca PA 6’4″ 230 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 03/30/24
CB Dallas Golden FL 6’0″ 175 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 04/28/24
DL Gordy Sulfsted OH 6’5″ 235 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 05/19/24
CB Mark Zachery IN 6’0″ 160 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 05/25/24
S JaDon Blair NC 6’4″ 200 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 07/05/24
S Brandon Logan IN 6’1″ 190 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 08/10/24
ATH Antavious Richardson GA 6’2″ 170 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/01/24
OL Cameron Herron IN 6’3″ 275 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/14/24
QB Blake Hebert CT 6’3″ 215 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/14/24
RB Nolan James NJ 5’11” 200 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 11/11/24
Given the transfer portal, it’s quite challenging to predict what the roster will look like next year. Currently, the Irish have seven running backs committed for 2025, but I doubt that number will remain the same in the coming months. Nonetheless, the running back room is filled with a variety of talent that can significantly contribute to the Irish’s success in winning football games.

2025 Notre Dame Football Scholarship Chart

Position / Year Freshmen Sophomore Junior Senior 5th/6th Year
Quarterback Blake Hebert C.J. Carr Kenny Minchey Steve Angeli
Running Back Justin Thurman, Nolan James Aneyas Williams, Kedren Young Jerimiyah Love Jadarian Price, Gi’Bran Payne
Tight End James Flanigan Jack Larsen Cooper Flanagan Eli Raridon Mitchell Evans, Kevin Bauman, Davis Sherwood
Wide Receiver Elijah Burress, Jerome Bettis Jr., Antavious Richardson Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert, Logan Saldate Jaden Greathouse, Kaleb Smith, Jordan Faison Deion Colzie
Center Ashton Craig
Guard Cameron Herron Sam Pendleton, Joe Otting, Chris Terek Billy Schrauth Rocco Spindler, Pat Coogan
Tackle Will Black, Owen Strebig, Matty Augustine Peter Jones, Anthonie Knapp, Styles Prescod, Guerby Lambert Sullivan Absher, Charles Jagusah Ty Chan, Aamil Wagner
Defensive Tackle Joseph Reiff, Davion Dixon Sean Sevillano Brenan Vernon, Devan Houstan Donovan Hinish Gabe Rubio, Jason Onye
Defensive End Christopher Burgess, Gordy Sulfsted Cole Mullins, Bryce Young, Loghan Thomas Boubacar Traore, Armel Mukam Joshua Burnham, Aiden Gobaira, Junior Tuihalamaka Kahanu Kia
Linebacker Dominik Hulak, Ko’o Kia, Anthony Sacca Teddy Rezac, Bodie Kahoun, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Drayk Bowen, Preston Zinter, Jaiden Ausberry Jaylen Sneed
Safety Ethan Long, JaDon Blair, Brandon Logan Kennedy Urlacher, Taebron Bennie-Powell, Brauntae Johnson Adon Shuler, Ben Minich, Luke Talich
Cornerback Cree Thomas, Dallas Golden, Mark Zachery Karson Hobbs, Leonard Moore Christian Gray Benjamin Morrison Chance Tucker
Specialists Bryce McFerson (P)
Totals 24/85 (24) 37/85 (23) 59/85 (22) 74/85 (15) 84/85 (10)

Conclusion

In summary, Nolan James represents an exciting addition to Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class. While the landscape of college football continues to evolve with the transfer portal, the Irish are well-positioned with a strong group of running backs, including James, who has the potential to develop into a game-changing player. His unique skill set, combined with the depth and diversity of talent in the running back room, bodes well for Notre Dame’s future. As the coaching staff focuses on building the program, fans can look forward to seeing how this talented group will shape the team’s success in the coming years.

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