When you think about running backs in 2015 and the Heisman Trophy, you generally think of LSU running back Leonard Fournette. Well, it’s time to add another name to that list. That name is none other than Notre Dame Fighting Irish redshirt Junior C.J. Prosise.
The funny thing is that Prosise was supposed to be the backup to Tarean Folston. However, Folston tore his ACL in the first game of the year against Texas and will miss the remainder of the year. Prosise stepped up and hasn’t looked back.
In his first game, he ran for 98 yards on 20 carries. He followed that performance up the next week against Virginia with 155 yards and two touchdowns on just 17 carries.
His third game of the season, he was even better. Against Georgia Tech he carried the ball 22 times for 198 yards and three touchdowns. That included a Notre Dame Stadium best 91 yard touchdown run. Think about that for a minute. Of all of the players that have gone on and played at Notre Dame Stadium, nobody has ever run for a longer touchdown. He has been nothing but magnificent for the Irish.
In week four against UMASS, he carried the ball just 15 times and rushed for 149 yards and another two touchdowns. Most of his yards came in the first quarter as he had over 100. Prosise became the first Notre Dame Player to rush for over 100 yards three straight games since 2005 when Darius Walker accomplished that feat.
Notre Dame’s leading rusher last year, Folston, had 889 yards. So far this season after four games, Prosise has 600 yards. Not bad for a player that has never played the position before. He was just a wide receiver last year and made the move after the team asked him.
Fournette is the current Heisman frontrunner and rightfully so. But Prosise deserves to be recognized as well. He is currently fourth in the country with his 600 rushing yards and is tied for eleventh with six rushing touchdowns.
Notre Dame heads to Death Valley this Saturday to take on Clemson. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00pm EST and can be seen on ABC.