Notre Dame running back Audric Estime is among the most productive and pro-ready ball-carriers in the 2024 NFL Draft. Estime exploded this past season, rushing for 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns. Outstanding contact balance and strength make Estime a starting-caliber running back.
Estime recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about the reasons behind his latest success, playing in multiple offenses, running through and around defenders, why he takes pass protection so seriously, and more.
JM: You had a terrific season in 2022, but you really exploded this past season, rushing for 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns. What led to the uptick in production?
Audric Estime: I would credit my confidence first and foremost. It was just a matter of time for me honestly. I feel like I’m a player that has always progressed forward throughout my years dating back to my high school days.
I’ve gotten better every year. That’s the same ascension that happened at Notre Dame for me. I kept getting better. It was time for me to leave it all out on the field in 2023. I had a great support system and a great coaching staff. I had a great offensive line blocking for me as well.
JM: It showed. When I turn the tape on, I see a running back that runs with outstanding contact balance. You consistently produce yards after initial contact. How did you develop that mentality?
Audric Estime: That’s just what it takes to play the game of football at a high level. It’s an extremely physical game. That’s the type of running back I’ve been my entire life. I always told myself that I couldn’t let the first defender tackle me.
No matter how I do it, I have to make the first man miss. If I run through him, over him, or around him, that’s what I’m going to do. I have to make him miss. I have to find those yards to keep the chains moving. That's always been my motto. It’s how I play the game.
JM: Speaking of, would you rather run around a defender, or through a defender? I feel like I know what your answer is based on the tape.
Audric Estime: That just honestly depends on my mood. My answer might change based on down and distance, how much time is left in the game, and so on. If it’s early in the game and I’m feeling angry, or maybe it’s a little rivalry game and I want to send a message, I’m going to run through you.
But I’m also a guy that likes scoring touchdowns. I want to put up points on the scoreboard for my team. If I can run past someone for a long 80-yard touchdown, I’m going to take that option. I love doing that as well.
JM: You also played in zone-based offenses and a gap/power-based offense. Which is your best fit at the next level?
Audric Estime: I played in both. I’m somebody that’s played in a bunch of different offenses. I’m used to running different schemes and different types of offenses. We ran a gap scheme, inside zone, outside zone, mid zone, pin and pull.
I feel like I executed all of those concepts at a very high level. I’m an extremely versatile back. Whatever type of scheme I get drafted into, I’ll be ready to master the offense. I can run it to perfection.
JM: I love the way you approach pass protection on third down. You have terrific strength and you're aggressive. Talk to me about your approach in pass pro.
Audric Estime: I take pass protection as seriously as I do running the football. I pride myself on being a three-down back. That means you have to be able to run routes out of the backfield in addition to pass pro. Everybody knows I can run the ball at a high level.
I’ve studied a ton of film to get better in pass protection. You have to protect your quarterback. I’m going into a league that has a bunch of pass-first offenses nowadays. The quarterback is the highest-paid player on the field for a reason.
We have to do everything within our power to protect him. Like I said earlier, I like to win games at the end of the day. I’ll do whatever it takes to achieve that. Protecting the quarterback is a big part of that. I take that very seriously.
JM: I love that answer. There was a difference between your 40 time at Pro Day and the NFL Combine. I've seen you run away from plenty of defenders on tape, but how are you explaining the difference?
Audric Estime: I’m a football player first and foremost. I play the game at a high level. Running the 40 at the NFL Combine is a part of the pre-draft process. You have to check every box. I was really happy with my vertical (38 inches) and broad jump (10-foot-5) at the combine.
My 40 wasn’t the result I wanted. I had a little hamstring issue. It was nothing serious, but it popped up right before the NFL Combine. It was something I had to deal with.
You have to take the good with the bad throughout this process. I jumped really well, but I didn’t run as well as I would’ve liked. You get judged by how you bounce back. I came back three weeks later and ran a better time at Pro Day.
That’s what it’s all about, improving as this process moves forward. I checked a lot of boxes. Now it’s time for me to wrap up my pre-draft interview process. I can’t wait to play football again. That’s what it’s all about.
JM: Remember when everyone overreacted to Kyren Williams’ 40 time? That hasn’t worked out well for those people. You were at ND with Williams.
Audric Estime: That happened during my freshman year. I got to pay close attention to his process. I saw it firsthand. We knew Kyren Williams was going to have success at the next level. He’s a really good football player. That’s motivation for me. It proves that you shouldn't judge a player entirely based on what they ran on the 40.
JM: There’s no doubt about that. The fact that you ran a better 40 at Pro Day answers that question. We've appreciated your time today. What kind of impact is Audric Estime going to make at the next level?
Audric Estime: I’m bringing a positive and dominant mindset with me to the next level. I’m going to go in and attack the process, attack every task at hand. I plan on being very relevant and sticking around this league for a very long time.
I want to be extremely successful. I want to win a championship. I’m always going to be a hard worker that enjoys the process.
