Notre Dame RB Audric Estimé opts out of bowl, declares for 2024 NFL Draft
Audric Estimé had one of the best three-year running back careers in Notre Dame history. It’s officially over.
Estimé declared for the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday, Dec. 14. Notre Dame’s all-time leader in single-season rushing touchdowns will not play in the Fighting Irish’s Sun Bowl game Dec. 29 against Oregon State. Instead, he’ll focus on the upcoming draft and forego his final year of collegiate eligibility.
Estimé finished his time at Notre Dame with 2,321 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns. He only had 7 carries for 60 yards as a true freshman in 2021, making him one of the most productive running backs in the country over the last two seasons. In 2023 alone, Estimé ran for 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns. Those marks ranked eighth and third in the nation, respectively.
The final memory of Estimé in a Blue and Gold uniform will forever be his outstanding performance in rushing 25 times for 238 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 56-23 Notre Dame win over Stanford.
Estimé’s career rushing total ranks 11th in program history, 20 yards behind George Gipp for 10th. His 2023 rushing total ranks fifth in single-season Notre Dame history, two yards behind Reggie Brooks for 10th. If Estimé stayed at Notre Dame for one more season, he’d have had a chance to post some of the best rushing statistics of any Irish tailback ever.
Leaving, however, is the prudent play for the 5-11 1/2, 227-pound junior.
Pro Football Focus has Estimé ranked as the seventh-best running back prospect in the upcoming draft and the No. 107 overall prospect, which would make him a fringe day two selection.
For reference, Kyren Williams was chosen by the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 164 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft following his junior season in 2021. Williams was used sparingly as a freshman at Notre Dame, setting the precedent for Estimé to follow an almost identical career arc. Things have worked out quite nicely for him; he’s scored 9 touchdowns in 7 games played this season. Estimé hopes for similar fortunes turning pro after his junior year.
