Notre Dame RB Adams to enter draft

Jan 5, 2018 - 7:46 PM Notre Dame lost its second offensive playmaker in as many days on Friday when running back Josh Adams announced he would enter the NFL Draft.

Adams joins fellow junior Equanimeous St. Brown into the draft. St. Brown, a receiver, declared on Thursday.

Adams led the Irish is rushing in each of the past two seasons, gaining 1,483 yards on 206 carries (6.9 yards per attempt) with nine touchdowns in 2017. He tied for first nationally with seven runs of 60-plus yards.

NFLDraftScout.com rates him as the eighth-best junior running back, projected to go in the third- to fourth-round range.

Despite his long runs, Adams (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) is known more his power and ability to get yards after contact.

"You don't just bring the guy down with an arm tackle," USC coach Clay Helton said earlier this season. "He just runs right through it."

St. Brown (6-5, 203) led Notre Dame with 33 catches for 515 yards and four scores in a ground-heavy attack.

The Irish also suffered a key defensive loss in recent days. Coordinator Mike Elko, who was a significant factor in the team's improvement this season in his first year in South Bend, is leaving to take the same position at Texas A&M under new coach Jimbo Fisher.