Notre Dame will have a clear advantage at running back during its season opener against Florida State. Kyren Williams was terrific in 2020, demonstrating how capable he was at putting up 100-yard performances. In fact, the 185 yards he ran for in last year’s meeting with the Seminoles are his career high. More importantly, the Seminoles were one of five opponents against which he scored at least two touchdowns.
In 2020, Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis was the team’s leading rusher, but as far as actual running backs, that title went to Jashaun Corbin. While it wasn’t a bad accomplishment for the Texas A&M transfer, he hardly had what you would call breakout numbers. In sizing up the two running backs in this comparison, Corbin literally was half the player Williams was last season. If Mike Norvell starts McKenzie Milton instead of Travis on Sunday, Corbin might have to pick up the slack on the ground unless Milton effectively unleashes that part of his game.