By John Brice
Special Contributor
The words from Notre Dame running backs coach Deland McCullough are neither boastful nor threatening; rather, they are statement of inevitable fact.
The ‘Vet’ is coming.
So what if Jadarian Price, returning from the injury that robbed him of the 2022 season, is yet to play a snap in a college football game?
McCullough, with a litany of NFL proteges and a Super Bowl ring from his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, knows running backs the way patrons to Augusta National know pimento cheese sandwiches.
“He had to just be a spectator, but in the meeting room, still asking questions, still knowing what’s going on, still keeping himself in tune with what’s happening, still got that great look in his eyes,” McCullough says. “And all the guys know, ‘JD’s coming.’ Everybody knows he’s coming.
“He’s coming back to be a big contributor on the team.”
McCullough sees Price earn the “veteran” moniker in his daily approach; remembers even from Price’s January 2022 arrival.
“His disposition, his knowledge. Someone may say, ‘Ah, this guy. He just participated in spring,’” McCullough says. “Well, it’s still a shadow. It still casted a shadow because he wasn’t just a bystander in spring. He played really, really well. And then just the calmness in which he operates and does things and confidence he exudes, but he’s still very humble.
“Yeah, he’s a veteran. He’s been around and he knows what’s to be expected and when his opportunity came, he showed it. Just as a guy in the meetings now, he still knows what he’s doing. He’s not fumbling over his words. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”
Price is just days into the 10th month of his recovery from rupturing his left Achilles tendon and undergoing surgery for its repair, but the consensus 2022 four-star signee from Denison, Texas, is bent on earning his way in a loaded, versatile Fighting Irish backfield that is widely heralded among the nation’s best backfields.
“Coach Deland, in our running backs room, he refers to me as ‘Vet,’ which is weird,” says Price, quick to thank Notre Dame officials for helping his family be on hand in South Bend, Indiana, last June for surgery to repair the Achilles. “Because I’m a freshman slash sophomore, so having that kind of recognition makes me feel good and confident in my abilities and knowledge.
“I got a lot of reps last spring, was around these guys a lot in the summer and the fall and just having that perspective on the sideline with Coach McCullough and analyzing what was happening on the field, having that different perspective, has added a lot to my game, actually.”
That Price is nearing full-speed on the heels of such a devastating injury is testament to both his physical and mental composition. His embrace of multiple daily sessions with trainers, typically including at least an hour in therapy after wheeling around Notre Dame’s LaBar Football Practice Fields observing his teammates, gleaning wisdom from McCullough.
“First off, before I was able to walk in a walking boot, I was scootering around – imagine this – two practice fields on a scooter,” says Price, a chiseled, 5-foot-10-3/8-inch, 203-pounder with tantalizing running and receiving skills, the evidence his 116 yards’ offense and touchdown in 2022’s Blue-Gold Game. “And this friction of the turf is terrible. So I was getting a leg workout before practice even started and then I was working in the ‘Pit’ and keeping my cardio up.
“Then post-practice, I was going into the training room and doing rehab, which was at least another hour itself. Doing not only things around calf and Achilles but working on my hips, working on my quad, my groin, everything. It’s not just one little area you’re working on, but rehab is a lot of the whole area to make sure that you’re not losing muscle and everything that supports the lower leg.”
Despite those tribulations, teammates cannot recall Price ever having a bad day.
“Jadarian is a really, really positive young man,” says junior Logan Diggs. “Through this whole process, you would never see him down, ever. Any time I would ask him, ‘How you feeling, as a brother I’m just concerned, how you doing?’ It’s always, ‘Yeah, I’m good, I’m good.’
“’How’s your ankle feel?’ ‘Oh, I feel good. I ran today.’ And then he starts telling me about it. Over time, he came in quiet, but he opened up and he’s been taking it really, really good. Looks really good, looks explosive. I’m excited to see him and what’s next for him.”
Among small victories, Price is happy to be back in his preferred jersey number, 24. It’s origin story also lends insight to his tenacious approach to rehab.
“I love 2-4; I’ve worn it all high school, and one reason is Kobe Bryant is my favorite athlete of all-time,” Price says. “He may have been a basketball player, but he’s just a great athlete. He’s instilled a lot in me. I’ve been a fan of him my entire life and so ever since I was able to wear the number 24, I’ve always worn the number 24. As soon as it was open again here this season, I got it.
“Competitive drive. I’m not a big trash talker, but I’d say his competitive drive and his willingness to show the world that in his own mind he was the best he could be.”
What Price doesn’t say, McCullough will: “JD’s coming.”