It's no secret that Notre Dame has an impressive track record in the recruitment and development of elite running back talent. From Josh Adams to Audric Estime, the Irish have continued to churn out some of the best tailbacks in college football in the past decade - and 2025 Irish commit Justin Thurman is no exception. We were fortunate enough to connect with Thurman recently, who shared tons of insight into both his recruitment, his mindset and his goals, as fans patiently await his arrival on campus.
Photo Via Justin Thurman, X
"It’s one big family and the vibes are always cool and positive."
As a way for Notre Dame fans to learn more and get excited about Justin Thurman; he was generous enough to answer a few questions about himself and his commitment to the University of Notre Dame.
Thurman is a 4-star running back out of Tampa, Fl where he attends Jesuit High School. There, he has made quite a name for himself as a speedy, do it all back with an impressive track background. Due to his reputation and talent, he has been ranked the 27th best running back in the entire country according to the 247 Sports Composite Rankings. As a recruit, he drew a lot of attention from Tennessee, Iowa, Kansas, and Florida. He eventually landed at Notre Dame and committed to Marcus Freeman just less than a year ago. At Notre Dame, he will be apart of a historic tradition of productive running backs, and after conducting this interview, he seems more than up to the task.
"They have a top tier football program and coaching staff, a great and well rounded environment, and the endless possibilities, paths, and networks that I can create for when football comes to an end for me."
Notre Dame's history, infrastructure, and coaching played a huge part in swaying Thurman to South Bend, as it has some of the best resources college football can offer. He also expressed how important it was for him to receive a top tier education, something that has always set Notre Dame apart from other schools.
"The historic and holistic picture in terms of a great education. They offer a unique program in real estate in the business school."
On the football field, Thurman can utilize a vast skill set to impact a game, and Coach Deland McCullough has already began to scheme ways to put him in positions to succeed. Coach McCullough has always been able to use different running backs in ways that suit them best, and Thurman will be no different.
"He likes my versatility and how it can be applied in ways such as being a 3 down back, moving out to the slot and receiver position, pass pro, and utilizing my speed to the fullest."
Along with Coach McCullough, OC Mike Denbrock has also began to cultivate a relationship with Thurman, however, it came under more unique circumstances compared to the rest of the coaching staff. Former OC Gerad Parker was the offensive coordinator when Thurman committed, but left to pursue a head coaching opportunity at Troy. This sort of change could bring complications to a player's recruitment, but luckily, Denbrock, along with the rest of the staff made this transition seamless.
"The transition has been great. I’ve been able to build a relationship with Coach Denbrock and talk about how my play style can be implemented into the 11 personnel offense that he uses and how well I fit into that type of offense."
The team dynamic can make or break a season. This makes it important to know what kind of teammates players will be when they arrive on campus. Thurman has high expectations for himself when it comes to this, and expresses what he brings to Notre Dame's locker room.
"I’m going to be the teammate that’s competitive, hardworking, one who stands by their teammates side, goes to battle and gives full effort no matter what."
The 2025 season is still a ways away, but Thurman understands he still has a lot of work to do before his high school graduation and arrival to South Bend. He still sees ways to improve as a player and a person before his high school career is up.
"My goal is to get better everyday and use my versatile play style and leadership to help my team put itself in a position to win a state championship."
As Thurman looks forward to what he can accomplish in his senior year, he already has a lot to be proud of when you take into account his various accomplishments. He has worked hard to diversify himself in many different ways, both on and off the field. Thurman lists a couple of things that he's most proud of up to this point in his career.
"Working hard to earn the offers I received and to be able to commit to go to school and play ball at the University of Notre Dame. Additionally, my consistent strong academic performance, giving back to the community, and receiving my 3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do."
As a way for fans to know him better, I asked Thurman to describe himself as a player and as a person, so that fans will know what they are getting when he becomes a member of the Fighting Irish in the fall of 2025.
"I describe myself as a hardworking, laser-focused, and determined player that runs the ball hard and fast. I would describe myself as a person who's chill, laid back, focused, and a funny individual."
Thurman is an extremely talented player with blazing speed and a versatile set of skills, but Notre Dame fans will have to wait until 2025 before they can see for themselves. Until that moment has come, Thurman has his sights set on a state championship and his high school graduation.
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