Notre Dame football: 3 takeaways from 2019 Blue-Gold Game

3. Jafar Armstrong looks like a more complete back

One of the few knocks against Jafar Armstrong last season was his somewhat one-dimensional running style. Nevertheless, outside of senior Dexter Williams, Armstrong was one of the most exciting players on the entire offense, solidifying himself as both a receiving and running threat alongside Tony Jones Jr.

While the combination of Williams’ emergence and nagging injuries put Armstrong on the back-burner for much of the season, significant excitement has surrounded Armstrong’s spring in the wake of Williams’ departure for the NFL.

While Jones brings a more well-rounded approach to the team, Armstrong’s energy and quick-cut ability were bound to keep him on the field regardless of his progression this spring. However, Armstrong has drawn exceptional praise from coaches and teammates alike this spring, understandably factoring into his position as the number one back on the team.

Armstrong, outside of a fumble, was one of the standouts of the Blue-Gold game, slicing and dicing his way through the defense seemingly at will. However, it was the way that he threw his shoulder into opponents that registered as the most impressive aspect of his day, an indication of his overall improvement as both a shifty and powerful runner.