I spoke with Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit offensive coordinator Don Mesick this week. Mesick coaches Notre Dame 2025 running back target Justin Thurman. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound running back was listed as one of the most impressive performers at Notre Dame's Evaluation Camp I Thursday. It was his first time on campus since landing an offer in May.
Mesick gave insight into Thurman's strengths, competitive character, what he could improve on and more. A couple of quotes that stood out:
On Thurman's strengths:
"He's a guy who is a football player that runs track, it's not the other way around," Mesick told Inside ND Sports. "For a football player, he's really, really fast. His straight-ahead speed [and] the power with which he runs really is reminiscent of Eric Dickerson. The high knees and the tremendous strides that he takes, when he gets out in the open, there are not many guys on the football field that are going to catch him."
On what Thurman learned as a reserve last season:
"Last year, Justin was really competing for reps. We had a tremendous running back last year in Temple 2023 running back signee Joquez Smith. Justin was working just to try to get on the field. His intensity of practice and how much he wanted to please the coaches and take advantage of the limited opportunities that he got was really refreshing. He wasn't the best player on our team last year but he was working towards that goal ... that's what he wants to be. He wants to be the best at whatever he's doing at all times. That's a really good character trait to have especially when you go to college."
Although Rivals has not assigned Thurman a rating or ranking at this time, he reports 19 offers including Notre Dame, Auburn, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisville and Tennessee.
Link to full story:
InsideNDSports - Q&A: Don Mesick talks coaching Notre Dame 2025 RB target Justin Thurman
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