The first time Notre Dame’s coaching staff watched C.J. Prosise compete in person, he was dunking a basketball in high school for Woodberry Forest.
On the football field, Brian Kelly and company saw him playing defense at safety.
For us, the first time was the 2013 Blue-Gold Game, where Prosise spent time at slot receiver.
During this annual spring intersquad scrimmage, he caught a football in space from then-early enrolled freshman quarterback, Malik Zaire.
Thirty five yards later, Prosise finished the play in the end zone, while Zaire sprinted down field in celebration.
What did we see? The ability to separate and run down hill. These downhill traits, while carrying the football, have a lot to do with his transition into a full-time running back.
We once again saw this during the Irish’s 31-28 win over LSU in the 2014 Music City Bowl. Prosise took a jet sweep hand-off from Zaire 50 yards for a touchdown in the second half.
At the conclusion of Fall camp this past season, the Petersburg, Va. native found himself as a complimenraty back to Tarean Folston. But following an ACL tear suffered by Folston during his third carry of a 38-3 win over Texas, Prosise was upgraded to the starting spot in the backfield. He finished with 20 carries for 98 yards that night.
In Notre Dame’s 34-27 win at Virginia the following week, the senior returned to his home state and ran the ball 17 times for 155 yards and a touchdown.
Now, with the Seattle Seahawks, Prosise has landed an opportunity to run between the tackles, execute the zone read, catch the ball out of the backfield and lineup in the slot, or on the perimeter.
We expect him to be among the most versatile and dynamic running backs in the NFL during his career. And at currently just 21 years of age, Prosise will be able to prove this with not a lot of tread on the tires.
Matchup: Georgia Tech Vs. Notre Dame’s C.J. Prosise (RB)
Reminds Us Of: Matt Forte (RB, New York Jets)
Draft Projection: 3rd Round
Quotable: “C.J. Prosise is going to be dynamic out of the backfield for someone. He’s a football player.” – Marshall Faulk, NFL Hall Of Fame Running Back
*VIDEO IS PROPERTY OF MATHEUS MILANEZ’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL
*PHOTO IS PROPERTY OF UND.COM
