Jadarian Price Prospect Profile

Background

Jadarian Price grew up in Denison, Texas, and attended Denison High School. He was a four-year standout who rushed for nearly 5,000 yards and 55 touchdowns while adding 64 receptions across his career. His mother, Jessica Butler, is the center of his story: two of her brothers were murdered, one at 14 and one at 21, and in November 2017 she was diagnosed with cancer, undergoing chemotherapy while her son cooked and cleaned for her and his two sisters at home. While Price was still in high school, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy came to the Denison library specifically to meet him, and Price kept Gundy waiting because he was finishing his shift as a teacher's aide to fifth graders. Less than a month after getting an offer, he committed to Notre Dame, bypassing campus visits to choose the Irish over Ohio State, Texas, USC, and Auburn. After arriving in January 2022 as an early enrollee and shining in the Blue-Gold spring game, he tragically tore his Achilles during summer conditioning, causing him to miss his entire freshman year. During his recovery, he watched YouTube videos of Cam Akers and other backs who had returned from the same injury. In his first career carry, he scored a touchdown. He also returned a kickoff 99 yards against USC. For two seasons, he was an explosive partner to Jeremiyah Love, contributing 674 yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, and three kickoff return touchdowns in 2025. He led the FBS in kick return yards and earned first-team All-American honors as a returner before declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft as a junior.

Physical Attributes

Jadarian Price is enough of an athlete. He is 5'11" and at the combine weighed 203 lbs, while running a 4.49 40. Nothing inspiring there, but again, this is a running back, you can make it work. On field, he is definitely fast, but does not have the outrunning speed to get away from DBs. Price also lacks strength in both his running and pass blocking, where he often loses ground..

Data and Tape Analysis

If you are unfamiliar with my RB radar charts, you can find more information here

Price played second fiddle to Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame, but I do not see an issue with him taking on a larger role in the NFL. Coming into the league, he will struggle to be out there every snap, though, as his pass blocking is very poor. His scans are check the box style, and NFL linebackers will throw him back into the QB if they come at him. His poor showing as a receiver will all but ensure he will be nowhere near third downs to start his career.

As a pure runner of the ball, Price was good, if nothing too special. He took the yards that were given to him. That is especially true on inside runs where he gets easily stopped, and does not have the prerequisite strength to fight for extra yards.

He tries to avoid inside runs, and you can tell because he loves to bounce the ball outside. This makes sense, as this is his home, where he excels the most. He stays sideways behind his line until he sees the gap in his wide zone runs and quickly puts a foot into the ground and goes upfield in a hurry. He possesses enough speed to evade most defensive linemen, but NFL players might catch him more often.

However, he never makes a poor decision with the ball in his hands, and that is worth a good amount. While he might not boom or bust like other RBs, Price reliably does what is asked of him.

Grade and Outlook

If you knew you were going to get D'Andre Swift, where would you draft him, is the question at the heart of Price's value. I'm building in a slight downside case in my ratings, but I feel like that is the best you could hope for and probably the most likely outcome.

Grade: 5.8 (Late 2nd Rounder / Early 3rd Rounder)