Audric Estimé explains brushing off 'too big to play running back' hate, NFL considerations

If Audric Estime’s family members can’t stop him, his opponents don’t stand a chance. In a sit-down interview with On3′ Andy Staples, the Notre Dame running back recounted the hurdles he faced chasing his dream of playing running back.

“In high school and even younger, older Pop-Warner years, I was getting a little bigger, but I was still fast,” Estimé recalled. “People were like, ‘Yeah, we see you playing linebacker.’ Everyone in my family has played the defensive side.

“And I’m like, ‘No, I like scoring touchdowns I like running. I’m gonna be running back.’ They were like, ‘Alright.’ But the years passed, I got bigger but even though I got bigger, I got faster and I got better at running back.”

A lot better. Estimé averages 118.2 yards per game, the ninth-most in the country. In just five games this season, Estimé boasts 591 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Standing at 5-foot-11, 230 pounds, Estimé is a breakaway train who averages 7.7 yards per carry.

Estimé’s success isn’t an accident. In his freshman season, Estimé appeared in 12 contests, tallying a mere 70 total rushing yards. Nonetheless, the New York native kept his nose to the grindstone. The hard work paid dividends.

In his sophomore season, Estimé led the Irish with 920 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. Estimé recorded 156 rushes, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Now, NFL scouts are drooling over the stocky locomotive.

Audric Estimé is devoted to running back

Nonetheless, the running back business isn’t glorious like it used to be. Riddled with injuries and short-changed contracts, running backs have recently pushed back against the league. With his size and speed, Estimé could easily make the transition to defense and reap the professional benefits.

Yet, just like the Pop-Warner kid from years ago, Estimé wants to run the ball.

“I love being a dynamic guy,” Estimé said. “I love to be able to make people miss, I love to be able to run through people, I love you to be able to run past people, and that’s something you get to do at running back.

“This just been my first love. I knew ever since I was a kid, four years old, that I was gonna be a running back. I was gonna be a Division I running back. I was gonna be an NFL running back. And that mission, that goal, never changed.”

Barring any setbacks, Estimé will continue to succeed at that goal this season. Watch the highly-touted backfield talent hit the field when the Fighting Irish square off against the No. 17 Duke Blue Devils at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on ABC.