Audric Estime, RB Notre Dame: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Estime was a four-star recruit from St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, N.J. in the class of 2021

Notre Dame running back Audric Estime has cooled off after a terrific start to the year. Despite a slight dip in production recently, Estime is still one of the biggest risers for the season. He will compete for a top 100 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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Audric Estime, RB Notre Dame: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior running back from Nyack, N.Y.

Background: Estime was a four-star recruit from St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, N.J. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 231 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 131 for Rivals, and No. 227 for On3.com. Estime was an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 79 grade out of 100. He originally committed to Michigan State before flipping to Notre Dame. As a high school senior, Estime carried the ball 190 times for 1,857 yards and 22 touchdowns in eight games. He also caught 14 passes for 185 yards and two scores. Estime ran 173 times for 1,190 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior and 156 times for 860 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore. He was NJ.com’s New Jersey Football Player of the Year in 2020.

Injuries & Off-Field: N/A

Awards: N/A

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return and punt return units, plenty of tread left on the tires, good bulk and build, good vision to find small gaps and cutback lanes, patiently picks his way downhill, good lateral hops for a player his size, able to decelerate and cut in one step, sharp cuts off a strong plant leg, footwork and cuts are sharp for a player his size, spin move, combo of speed and size is tough to stop if you give him room to build momentum, impressive top speed to erase angles, acceleration to overtake and outpace second level defenders, burst flashes when he sees open running lanes, leapt over defenders vs. Central Michigan (2023), steps through arm tackles, high arm tackles slip off him, not brought down by defenders who sideswipe him, willing to take on and absorb contact, contact balance to bounce around in the pile of bodies, churns legs through contact, USC’s defensive front was too small to slow him down (2023), size helps in pass pro, lines up and stonewalls blitzers in pass pro

Cons: Fumbled three times in 2022, doesn’t go anywhere when hit in the backfield, not shifty in the backfield, often brought down by first contact and in the backfield vs. Ohio State (2023), patient to a fault, needs to hit the hole with more momentum and violence, needs to get downhill quickly and take what he can get when things collapse, dead in the water if he isn’t working north-south, lacks elite acceleration in congested spaces, inconsistent creating against loaded boxes, leads with head into contact at times, not twitchy or sudden, some hip stiffness, needs a runway to reach top speed, not an elusive ball carrier, doesn’t chain cuts or jukes together, not an athletic fit for outside zone schemes, rarely involved in the passing game, needs to clamp and sustain blocks

Overview: With under 300 career college carries entering Notre Dame’s ninth game of the 2023 season, Estime has plenty of tread left on his tires. He is a well-built running back with the mass and power to break tackles and play through contact. Estime displays good vision to find small gaps and some cutback opportunities. He patiently picks his way downhill, but this sometimes backfires. Estime isn’t a dynamic running back when he’s not working downhill. This means he is vulnerable when waiting for plays to develop. Ohio State (2023) took full advantage of this flaw and brought Estime down on first contact in the backfield several times. The junior running back doesn’t go anywhere when hit in the backfield and struggles to create outside of working downhill. He needs to recognize when a play isn’t developing correctly and just hit the hole with as much momentum and power as possible. Estime displays good lateral bounce for a player with his size. He decelerates and cuts sharply off his plant leg. The New York native isn’t an elusive running back, but his cuts are good enough to leave defenders grasping at air. Estime also uses a spin move and hurdles defenders to generate extra yards. His combination of speed and size is tough to stop if he has room to build momentum. Estime’s top speed is impressive and allows him to erase angles. His acceleration allows him to overtake and outpace linebackers and some safeties. That burst really flashes when Estime sees an open lane. However, he needs a runway to reach his top speed and doesn’t play with great acceleration in congested spaces. This makes his production against stacked boxes inconsistent. The former four-star recruit steps through arm tackles, and high arm tackles slip off him. He isn’t brought down by defenders who sideswipe him. Estime is willing to take on, absorb, and play through contact. His contact balance is above average, and he churns his legs through contact to generate extra yards. Estime has the bad habit of sometimes dropping his head and leading with his crown. He isn’t a twitchy or sudden athlete and battles some hip stiffness. Estime doesn’t chain cuts or jukes together and is an unlikely fit for outside zone schemes because of his downhill nature. He has the size and willingness to be an impact player in pass protection if he refines his technique. Notre Dame doesn’t use Estime in the passing game often.

Overall, Estime pairs his size with impressive acceleration and speed when given a rushing lane, but his agility and creativity in crowded rushing lanes aren’t ideal. Estime should find a rotational role on non-passing downs in the NFL. Becoming a more consistent pass protector and pass catcher would significantly raise his value.

Role & Scheme Fit: Rotational running back in an inside zone or gap scheme

Round Projection: Late Third to Mid Fourth

Size: 5'11.5", 227 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 10-26-23