Player comparisons for Notre Dame commits Javian Osborne, Jonaz Walton, and QB Noah Grubbs

With the commitment of 2026 Charlotte (N.C.) Independence safety Nick Reddish on Friday, the Notre Dame recruiting class is nearly completed. In fact, the offensive group, barring pushing for a third tight end, is fully solidified already. The finish over the past few weeks has given the Fighting Irish a borderline elite group on the offensive side. 

Just to have some fun, let’s talk player comparisons. There are two types of people in the world, those who love comps and those who pretend like they don’t love comps. For the 2026 Fighting Irish class, let’s talk about the backfield, where they have a talented quarterback and two dynamic running backs committed. 

Let’s remember, these are stylistic comparisons. I’m not in the business of predicting careers, and I left my crystal ball in my other pants. This exercise is quite simple, asking yourself who each of these talented players plays like. 

RB Javian Osborne - Forney (Texas) High School

player comp: LeSean McCoy (retired) 

Yes, this comp is a little lofty, but it’s hard not to see a little bit of “Shady” when you pop on the film of Osborne. His jump cut is especially deadly, just like it was for McCoy. Osborne is a really impressive blend of balance, explosiveness, and short area quickness. When all is said and done, Osborne will be right around the same size as McCoy as well, while also being an all around weapon.