Notre Dame Football: 5 early bold predictions for 2018 season

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SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 15: Dexter Williams #2 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs the ball against the Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium on October 15, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

4. Dexter Williams breaks 1,000 yards rushing

Notre Dame has had three different 1,000-yard rushers since 2011 and Dexter Williams will become the fourth in 2017. Brian Kelly hasn’t tipped off who will be the starting running back to replace Josh Adams, the most recent 1,000-yard rusher, in 2018.

My guess would be Williams. He’s the best running back on the roster heading into the 2018 season and the next best, Deon McIntosh, was just suspended for the Citrus Bowl and could be looking to earn some carries back next season.

The junior running back didn’t get as many carries as he would have liked in 2017, but made the most of them, averaging 9.1 yards per touch. The 5-foot-11, 215-pound back from Orlando, Fla., will likely begin the season as the every-down back, but he might split some time with Deon McIntosh and maybe even Tony Jones Jr.

In the end, it will be a Williams-heavy run game which will result in a 1,000-yard season for the senior back. He’s going to make a case for the NFL and become an impressively productive runner for the Irish.

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