Notre Dame may have learned the wrong lesson from its loss to BYU, because the biggest storyline coming out of that game wasn’t just what went wrong. It was how little the Irish used Jonaz Walton.
The freshman running back handled only five touches, enough to make some people wonder whether he had been hurt. He wasn’t. He was just stuck on the sideline too much, and that kind of usage feels unlikely to last over the final five games of the 2026 campaign.
That’s because Walton has already shown enough since first getting his chances against Rice to turn heads well beyond South Bend. Some draft analysts believe he has the kind of ability that could make him a first-round pick one day, which is a striking place to be for a freshman who is still building his role. In the long view, he could become the player Notre Dame hoped Aneyas Williams would be as the answer behind Jeremiyah Love.
Among the people most sold on Walton is 247Sports analyst Mike Renner, who has spent years evaluating NFL talent. Renner drew a strong comparison when speaking with On3 analyst Drew Mentock on a recent podcast, saying Walton reminds him of former Georgia back Nick Chubb.
"I've seen the comps to Nick Chubb, and that's what Nick Chubb looked like as a true freshman at Georgia," Renner told On3 analyst Drew Mentock in a recent podcast episode. "Just a guy who really didn't have great feel yet for the running back position, but you couldn't tackle him.
And if he was out in open space, he was going to run by everyone. That's kind of Jonaz right now."
Renner doubled down on that view later in the same conversation.
"I mean, I've told everyone I know that Jonaz Walton's going to be a first-round draft pick at some point, barring, you know, terrible injury and luck, knock on wood," Renner said earlier in the podcast.
He also made clear that Walton’s ceiling is tied to getting more regular work than he received against BYU. Renner described a stretch in which Walton seemed to overwhelm the opposing front with a force the other Notre Dame backs simply didn’t match.
"When he came in, he's just, like, rolling over these - OK, so BYU has, like, some undersized linebackers, undersized defensive line; they're not the biggest up front, but they want they're fast, they're athletic, they want to create some chaos, and he comes in, and it's just like dragging their front just left and right because he's just a different level of power from Aneyas Williams, a different level of power from Nolan James …"
The numbers back up the buzz. Walton leads No.
5 Notre Dame with 426 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and he’s averaging 5.7 yards per carry. If the Irish actually commit to him more often, there’s plenty of room for that production to keep climbing.
Notre Dame has had its blind spots when it comes to playing talented younger players instead of leaning on veterans it trusts more, and that has been acknowledged before by receivers coach Mike Brown at wide receiver. Walton looks like the latest test of whether the Irish are willing to let the talent win out. If they do, the final stretch of the season could look very different.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Is Still Waiting On A Return That Could Change Its Defense
Brauntae Johnsons absence has already stretched well beyond what Notre Dame initially expected, leaving the Fighting Irish without a safety many around the program believed would be back in a matter of weeks. Instead, the injury has kept him sidelined for more than half the season, and the defense has had to keep moving without one of its more promising pieces.
The outlook around the program has stayed upbeat, though, with teammates and coaches continuing to sound hopeful about his recovery. Notre Dame is eyeing a possible return for the Miami or SMU games, and if Johnson does get back in time, it could give the defense a noticeable lift at just the right moment. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Is Doing What It Takes To Keep A 5-Star Locked In
When a five-star recruit takes a bye week, Notre Dame is making sure the relationship stays front and center. Marcus Freeman and Charlie Partridge recently visited Abraham Sesay during his high school break, a reminder that the Irish are treating the 2027 edge rusher like a priority long after his June 2026 commitment. Partridge even stayed to watch a game after Sesay exited early with an injury, a small gesture that still says plenty about how seriously Notre Dame is approaching the recruitment.
Sesay has plenty of reason to stay on the programs radar, too. The five-star from the 2027 class chose Notre Dame over several major programs, and his profile keeps rising with a Navy All-American honor coming at a school pep rally before he heads to the East vs. West All-American Bowl in January 2027. For the Irish, the next challenge is less about winning him over and more about making sure that commitment keeps holding as the spotlight gets brighter. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Has Too Much NFL Talent For This Start
Even after a loss to BYU, there is no shortage of NFL-caliber talent on Notre Dames roster, and ESPNs Mel Kiper underscored that in his latest 2027 mock draft. Kiper placed five Irish players among the top five at their positions, a reminder that this team is stocked with prospects who are already drawing national attention. Leonard Moore came in as the No. 1 cornerback, while Brauntae Johnson was slotted as the top safety despite limited playtime this season.
For Notre Dame, that kind of preseason and early-season respect only raises the pressure to translate potential into results. Marcus Freemans demeanor after the BYU loss suggested a coach who knows the standard is higher than what the Irish showed, and the roster rankings only sharpen the spotlight on a group expected to look much further along. The talent is obvious, but the challenge now is proving it in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]