Javian Osborne wanted to commit on his first visit to Notre Dame in March.
The Rivals100 running back followed his father’s guidance and didn’t make any declarations on the visit. But patience never changed the way Osborne felt about the Irish.
That’s why Osborne was ready Saturday to announce his commitment to Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class.
“It was pretty easy for me,” Osborne told Inside ND Sports. “When I stepped foot on campus, I felt a different feeling. I felt a feeling that I never got anywhere else. I’ve been on a lot of trips, but when I when I went up to South Bend and walked on campus, it was just a different feeling that I never got before.
“It was past the football part. The school environment, the campus lifestyle, it just fits me as a person.”
SUBSCRIBE TO INSIDE ND SPORTS TO STAY IN THE KNOW ON NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS
More Content
► Heat Index: Notre Dame looking at tackles to wrap up offensive line class
► Heat Index: Notre Dame needs to finish strong at wide receiver in 2026 class
► Heat Index: ND's still looking for first tight end commitment in 2026 class
► Portal Roundup: Former Notre Dame walk-on Zac Yoakam commits to Houston
► Chat Transcript: Comparing Notre Dame football's 2024 talent level to 2025
Osborne picked Notre Dame over fellow finalist Michigan. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound junior at Forney (Texas) High also considered Texas, Texas A&M, SMU, Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Tennessee and Oregon throughout his recruitment. But in April, Osborne decided to narrow his focus on the Irish and Wolverines with a commitment date of May 3 in mind.
Osborne’s father previously suggested he wait to make a decision until after taking official visits. Instead, Osborne visited Notre Dame and Michigan for their respective spring games to wrap up his recruitment.
“That second visit, it was just like a cherry on top for me,” Osborne said of his visit for Notre Dame’s Blue-Gold Game. “I already knew the campus. The first visit, they laid out the red carpet. They laid out everything and showed everything.”
Though the Blue-Gold Game pales in comparison to a home game in the fall, it still gave Osborne a sense of how Notre Dame fans embrace the football program.
“The fans love Notre Dame,” Osborne said. “They breathe Notre Dame football. They’re big fans of it. I love that about the community, the city and the culture.”
Notre Dame’s coaches became big fans of Osborne, too. He’s been a productive running back at Forney High since his freshman season when he rushed 138 times for 908 yards and eight touchdowns. He reached 2,231 yards and 39 touchdowns on 290 carries in his sophomore season. He rushed 188 times for 1,227 yards and 22 touchdowns last fall. He’s also added 28 receptions for 386 yards and five touchdowns throughout his career.
Rivals ranks Osborne as No. 3 running back and No. 89 overall in the 2026 class. He’s the 12th-ranked prospect in Texas in his recruiting class. Last spring, Osborne completed a 100-meter dash in 11.05 seconds.
“He’s one of our favorite backs in this 2026 cycle largely because he presents a three-down versatile skill set,” said Rivals national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman. “For starters, he runs extremely low to the ground. He’s extremely tough running through contact. He has elite contact balance to extends and runs. He has proven track speed and breakaway speed to distance himself on any given play and turn it into a home run.
“But really we love his toughness on a run-to-run basis, his ability to consistently churn out tough yardage between the tackles and also that aforementioned speed to break away on certain plays and impact the passing game as well.”
Osborne became the first running back commitment in Notre Dame’s 2026 class, which now includes 14 commitments and is ranked by Rivals as second best in the country behind only USC and its 26 commitments. That also made Osborne the first running back to commit to Notre Dame since the arrival of new running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider in February.
Seider, who spent the last seven seasons at Penn State, offered Osborne in December, which was Osborne’s 40th scholarship offer. Osborne was curious why it took so long to get an offer from the Nittany Lions, but it didn’t take Osborne long to start developing a relationship with Seider while being recruited to Notre Dame. The two met for the first time when Osborne made his first visit to Notre Dame.
“It’s bigger than ball,” Osborne said. “One thing he told me when I got to see him in person was he will never fail me as a person, as a coach. That goes a long way, because at the end of the day we know this is business, too. But if something was to happen, would you still look at me the same? Would you still take care of me the same as like a father figure? That’s what he presents himself as.
“He’s a good mentor. He’s a great guy, easy to talk to. He knows how to coach as well. He’s one of a kind.”
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO INSIDE ND SPORTS ON YOUTUBE
Though the last six running backs to sign with the Irish have been four-star recruits, according to Rivals, Notre Dame hasn’t signed a running back who finished in the Rivals100 since Chris Tyree in the 2020 class. Osborne could end that drought.
Notre Dame’s been on quite the run of successful running backs regardless of their Rivals rankings. Former starters Kyren Williams and Audric Estimé were selected in the 2022 and 2024 NFL drafts, respectively. Returning starter Jeremiyah Love, who is entering his junior season this year, has already been projected as a potential first-round pick in next year’s draft after rushing for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.
“They’re a run-first team,” Osborne said. “They pride themselves on their running backs as well. I know that I can get to the league. If you do your thing and you do it at an excellent point, you’re gonna be drafted in the first round. The coaches there are going to put you in the best position to succeed and for you to be drafted high.”
Osborne has already connected with many of the recruits in Notre Dame’s 2026 class. He’s established relationships with the offensive line commits who he plans to run behind and the quarterback he plans to receive the ball from. He even knows some of the defensive commits like defensive backs Ayden Pouncey and Chaston Smith and linebacker Thomas Davis Jr.
“They all seem to have this personality about them,” Osborne said. “When you go on a visit, you can kind of tell it’s different. At Notre Dame, they have a personality about them. They’re good people, not just football players. They’re easy to talk to and good people.”
Osborne wants to bring some other recruits from Texas to join him at Notre Dame. Fellow Texas targets Brayden Robinson, a four-star wide receiver, and Tiki Hola, a four-star defensive tackle, were on campus with Osborne around the Blue-Gold Game. Notre Dame’s also pursuing four-star wide receivers Kaydon Finley and Jayden Warren, three-star defensive lineman Alister Vallejo, four-star linebacker Tai’Yion King in Texas.
“Texas to South Bend should be a pipeline,” Osborne said. “Why not leave Texas and head up north? Texas teams are overrated. The best is up north. When you go up north, that’s where the athletes are. The best players in Texas go up north.”
Notre Dame would like to add a second running back to its 2026 class alongside Osborne. Two of the more recent running back offers also came in Texas to four-star all-purpose back KJ Edwards and four-star athlete Paris Melvin Jr. Notre Dame is already in good shape with three other four-star backs: Jonaz Walton, Brian Bonner and DeZephen Walker.
---------------------------------------------------------------
• Talk with Notre Dame fans on The Insider Lounge.
• Subscribe to the Inside ND Sports podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Podbean or Pocket Casts.
• Subscribe to the Inside ND Sports channel on YouTube.
• Follow us on Twitter: @insideNDsports, @EHansenND and @TJamesND.
• Like us on Facebook: Inside ND Sports
• Follow us on Instagram: @insideNDsports
