Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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to pack the bags for greener pastures grows. Folston doesn't see it that way. "This is not a one-man show around here," he said after his performance versus Navy. "We all work together as a team. One week the bulk of carries might come from one guy and another guy may contribute. You never know. Folston Right 'On Schedule' Throughout the 41-year history of freshman eligibility, the best Notre Dame backs usually didn't have their breakout freshman performance until the sixth through eighth game. Tarean Folston was right on schedule. "In this day and age you have to be patient in whatever you do," Folston said shortly after his 18-carry, 140-yard breakout performance against Navy in the ninth game. "Tonight my number was called and I made the most of my opportunities. It's not me, it's not a one-man show, but I feel good about it, and patience just set me up for this." In today's "star ratings" via recruiting services, there is chronic angst about Notre Dame freshman running backs transferring if they don't play or star right away. This is especially true when an Alabama or Georgia in 2012 produces a 1,000-yard true freshman such as TJ Yeldon or Todd Gurley, respectively. However, there is another side to not automatically labeling someone a "bust" if he doesn't instantly produce. "Stars really don't mean anything to me," Folston said. "It's about how I perform and how I project myself as a person." Since 1980, Notre Dame has had five running backs drafted in the first or the second round of the NFL Draft. Check out their freshman seasons at Notre Dame and where they were after six games, compared to Folston's 69 yards on 11 carries after six games: • Vagas Ferguson (1976) — 24 carries for 144 yards • Greg Bell (1980) — five carries for 60 yards the entire season • Ricky Watters (1987) — 39 carries for 177 yards • Reggie Brooks (1989) — nine carries for 24 yards • Jerome Bettis (1990) — nine carries for 65 yards • Julius Jones (1999) — 16 carries for 70 yards Another of the great backs in Notre Dame annals, Allen Pinkett (1982-85) had 29 carries for 113 yards in his first six games as a freshman before breaking out with 129 yards versus Navy and then 112 in a 31-16 upset of No. 1 Pitt. With the exception of Darius Walker, many other star running backs the past 15 years at Notre Dame who went on to play in the NFL went through their share of paying dues as freshmen. • After six games in 2001, Ryan Grant didn't even get his first carry until the seventh game of his freshman year for a 5-6 team. He finished the season with 110 yards. • After six games in 2007, Armando Allen had 32 carries for 119 yards and Robert Hughes had nine rushes for 33 yards. • In 2008, Jonas Gray didn't have a single carry after six games. • In 2009, USA Today first-team All-American recruit Cierre Wood didn't play, while Theo Riddick had seven carries for 43 yards after six games. He would finish the year with 160 yards rushing. Sometimes it takes time to become an overnight sensation. — Lou Somogyi