Notre Dame Football: Tarean Folston To Enter 2017 NFL Draft

Senior running back, Tarean Folston is leaving the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and will enter the 2017 NFL Draft. Folston had already been in South Bend for the past four years, but a devastating injury in the first game of the 2015 season against the Texas Longhorns ended his season, and altered his career.

Folston arrived at Notre Dame as the less heralded of the two running backs in the class of 2013. The other was of course Greg Bryant. Folston worked from the shadows a bit until it became clearer and clearer that he was Notre Dame’s best running back.

There’s nothing “showstopping” about 889 yards in a sophomore season, but he had flashes of greatness throughout the 2014 season that provided a lot of hype going into his junior year in 2015.

Tragedy struck early for Folston. After 3 carries in the first game, he tore his ACL and was done for the year. In his absence, CJ Prosise and freshman Josh Adams made a big name for themselves, and as he entered his senior year, it looked like there would be less carries than he had hoped. He was banged up for a lot of the year, and he never really seemed to get back into is old form.

I had pretty much penciled him for the draft a few months ago- or at least transfer, perhaps, to play with his brother at Pitt. Folston still has one year of eligibility left due to the early injury in 2015. However, for a guy with injury problems, playing one more year before trying his luck out in the NFL didn’t make much sense. Still, there was no news or announcement either way. Most of us could have guessed he’d go this route, but now it’s finally official.

Bleacher Report recently did a full mock draft and had Folston going somewhere in the 5th round. That seems a bit high, but Folston is a team first back that puts it all out on the field. He also has a nice smooth running style that could do well in the NFL.

Time will tell on all of that, but for now, we wish Tarean Folston the best of luck in all that he does.