Javian Osborne did more than add to one of college football’s best rivalries Saturday when the four-star running back recruit from Forney, Texas, committed to Notre Dame over Michigan.
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Osborne announced his commitment to On3 Recruits. The No. 90 player and No. 6 running back in the 247Sports Composite for the Class of 2026, also let new Notre Dame running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider make a statement in his first spring after joining Marcus Freeman’s staff from Penn State. Seider beat out former Notre Dame running backs coach Tony Alford, too, as the current Michigan running backs coach was also a candidate to replace Deland McCullough, who joined the Las Vegas Raiders staff last winter.
Osborne maintained Notre Dame’s torrid start to the recruiting Class of 2026, which ranks in the top five of all three major services and as high as No. 2 by 247Sports. It’s not unusual for Notre Dame to get off to a fast start in recruiting — it ranked No. 1 during the summers of Freeman’s first two cycles — but seven commitments in the past month, all four-star prospects in the 247Sports Composite, is particularly notable. That run includes defensive end Rodney Dunham, the highest-rated prospect in the class and a potential five-star talent, and four-star defensive back Ayden Pouncey, a national prospect who committed last weekend.
If Notre Dame didn’t pick up much of a recruiting afterglow last cycle during its march to the national championship game, the Irish are doing so now. Former general manager Chad Bowden may have decamped for USC, replaced with Mike Martin and a rebuilt recruiting staff, but Notre Dame continues to prove that everyone loves a winner. The results could lead Freeman to assemble his best class if trends hold.
Why is Osborne so important?
On the surface, landing a top running back might not seem like a priority this cycle.
The Irish will open preseason camp with six scholarship backs, all of whom have eligibility beyond this season. There’s little reason to think they’ll use it, though, which makes reloading early a necessity. Jeremiyah Love is certain to depart to the NFL after this season, and there’s a good chance Jadarian Price does, too. None of the remaining backs — Aneyas Williams, Kedren Young, Gi’Bran Payne and Nolan James Jr. — were recruited by Seider, who doesn’t plan to spread reps like McCullough did last season.
So, if Love and Price get the overwhelming load, where does that leave the other four backs after this season? The room won’t turn over entirely, but it’s worth recruiting like it could because six backs could become three in a hurry.
Osborne gives Notre Dame a college-ready running back on the prep level, considering he’s rushed for more than 1,000 yards each of the past three seasons (4,522 total yards rushing) and totaled 72 touchdowns. He’s built to play behind one of college football’s best offensive lines, which he’d have done at either Notre Dame or Michigan. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Osborne worked himself into position to get carries as a freshman in South Bend. — Pete Sampson, Notre Dame beat writer
What this means for Michigan
All eyes will be on Savion Hiter, the No. 1 running back prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings and a longtime target of Alford. Landing Hiter and Osborne in the same class would have been a home run for Michigan. With Osborne picking Notre Dame, Hiter’s recruitment becomes even more crucial.
Alford came to Michigan from Ohio State with a reputation as an elite recruiter, though Buckeyes fans had grown a bit restless late in his tenure. Heading into his second season at Michigan, Alford is still looking for a signature recruiting win. Osborne’s recruitment was a head-to-head battle with Notre Dame, where Alford coached from 2009 to 2014. Hiter’s recruitment could be a battle with Ohio State, where he coached from 2014 to 2023. Given Michigan’s emphasis on running the ball, landing an elite back in the 2026 class should be high on Michigan’s list of priorities.
Osborne would have fit in nicely as a back in the Jordan Marshall/Justice Haynes mold. Now that he’s off the board, it’s likely that Michigan will keep up its pursuit of Hiter while looking for another running back to prioritize in the 2026 class. — Austin Meek, Michigan beat writer
What’s next for Notre Dame during the May contact period?
The Irish remain in strong position to land three-star defensive tackle Tiki Hola when he announces his commitment on May 10, with Notre Dame and SMU the primary contenders.
But as much as commitments move the needle in recruiting, the Irish staff may need the coming weeks more for evaluation.
Notre Dame wants to sign a second running back this cycle and already has offers out to a select group, including Brian Bonner (Valencia, Calif.), DeZephen Walker (Peculiar, Mo.) and Jonaz Walton (Carrollton, Ga.). All three have official visits scheduled to Notre Dame in June.
Tight end is also an evaluation position during May as offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock orders the board, with taking two a priority. That took Denbrock to Iowa, Montana and Kansas this week to see Evan Jacobson (Waukee, Iowa), Matt Ludwig (Billings, Mt.) and Ian Premer (Great Bend, Kan.). Like running back, the tight end room could turn over after this season, as Eli Raridon and Kevin Bauman depart, with Cooper Flanagan coming off a torn Achilles.
But the biggest to-do on Notre Dame’s list this month is probably figuring out what to do at quarterback next cycle, with four-star Noah Grubbs already committed for the current haul. Because Notre Dame played into late January, quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli couldn’t use the month to evaluate quarterbacks in person while prepping for the national title game. That makes May crucial for the staff to canvas the country to see who fits and how.
Denbrock values mobility in quarterbacks, although it’s not a make-or-break trait in scouting. The Irish have shown early interest in Elijah Haven (Baton Rouge, La.), Gunner Rivers (Fairhope, Ala.), Colton Nussmeier (Flower Mound, Texas) and Malachi Ziegler (Benton, La.). Rivers is the son of Philip Rivers and shares a hometown with former Irish quarterback Riley Leonard.
The only quarterback off the board that Notre Dame pursued is Trae Taylor (Mundelein, Ill.), who committed to Nebraska on May 1. — Sampson
(Photo: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)