The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have gotten off to a 4-0 start in a rather peculiar way. Instead of relying upon their starting quarterback, starting running back, and other projected starters elsewhere, the Irish have had to relegate themselves to the arm of the previously unproven DeShone Kizer, and safety-turned-slot-receiver-turned-running back C.J. Prosise.
Forget for a minute that Notre Dame’s early season success is incredible on its own; Prosise’s rise to dominance is bordering on fiction that rivals anything buried at the bottom of a clearance section at a local bookstore.
Through four games, Prosise has rushed for 600 yards while scoring six touchdowns. Now, remember, this is his first season playing the running back position at any level, and only his second year playing on the offensive side of the ball.
The senior started his career as a safety. In a well-documented move, Brian Kelly eventually moved him to play slot receiver, and then — during the previous offseason — he gave Prosise some experimental snaps at running back during spring football.
The “idea” of C.J. Prosise playing running back this season was more theoretical than it was by design — at least before the season began. However, like many other programs throughout the country, Notre Dame started to become ravaged by injuries. A preseason darling appeared to be doomed by an epidemic of injuries.
Enter, by force and not will: C.J. Prosise — and, as importantly, the Irish’s offensive line.
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