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ND’s Jonaz Walton a semifinalist for freshman of the year award
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- ND’s Jonaz Walton a semifinalist for freshman of the year award
Freshman Jonaz Walton has made an immediate impact as one of US LBM Coaches Poll No. 6 Notre Dame 's top running backs so far this season.
Walton's presence with the Fighting Irish led to him being selected as a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year semifinalist .
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The award, which was first given in 2018, is presented annually to the best freshman player of the year in college football. If Walton wins, he'd be the first Notre Dame player to receive the award.
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. outruns Navy's Giuseppe Sessi to score a 52-yard touchdown during a game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. celebrates with Ian Premer (No. 24) after scoring a 52-yard touchdown during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
A Notre Dame fan cheers during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Notre Dame's CJ Carr warms up before a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman smiles before a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Notre Dame's Cam Williams leaps up to make a catch during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. celebrates after scoring a 52-yard touchdown during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman leads the team on the field, along with Tionne Gray (No. 0), before a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Notre Dame's Micah Gilbert celebrates with Sullivan Ashber after catching an 11-yard touchdown pass during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 31: CJ Carr #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown against the Navy Midshipmen during the first half at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
(Winslow Townson, Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 31: Nolan James Jr. #2 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs past the Navy bench on his way to a touchdown during the first half of their game at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
(Winslow Townson, Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback CJ Carr #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown run by Nolan James Jr. #2 during the first half against the Navy Midshipmen at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
(Winslow Townson, Getty Images)
Oct 31, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Nolan James Jr. (2) celebrates a touchdown against the Navy Midshipmen with teammates during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
(Eric Canha, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. outruns Navy's Giuseppe Sessi to score a 52-yard touchdown during a game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Navy's Jackson Gutierrez sneaks in for a 2-yard touchdown during a game vs. Notre Dame at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Navy's Jackson Gutierrez drops back to make a pass during a game vs. Notre Dame at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
The Notre Dame football team played a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
The Notre Dame football team played a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. outruns Navy's Giuseppe Sessi to score a 52-yard touchdown during a game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
1
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. outruns Navy's Giuseppe Sessi to score a 52-yard touchdown during a game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. celebrates with Ian Premer (No. 24) after scoring a 52-yard touchdown during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
A Notre Dame fan cheers during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
4
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's CJ Carr warms up before a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
5
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman smiles before a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
6
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Cam Williams leaps up to make a catch during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
7
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. celebrates after scoring a 52-yard touchdown during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
8
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman leads the team on the field, along with Tionne Gray (No. 0), before a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
9
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Micah Gilbert celebrates with Sullivan Ashber after catching an 11-yard touchdown pass during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
10
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 31: CJ Carr #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown against the Navy Midshipmen during the first half at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
(Winslow Townson, Getty Images)
11
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 31: Nolan James Jr. #2 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs past the Navy bench on his way to a touchdown during the first half of their game at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
(Winslow Townson, Getty Images)
12
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback CJ Carr #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown run by Nolan James Jr. #2 during the first half against the Navy Midshipmen at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
(Winslow Townson, Getty Images)
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These are Notre Dame's five stars at Navy
Oct 31, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Nolan James Jr. (2) celebrates a touchdown against the Navy Midshipmen with teammates during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
(Eric Canha, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
14
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. outruns Navy's Giuseppe Sessi to score a 52-yard touchdown during a game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
15
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Navy's Jackson Gutierrez sneaks in for a 2-yard touchdown during a game vs. Notre Dame at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
16
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Navy's Jackson Gutierrez drops back to make a pass during a game vs. Notre Dame at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
17
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
The Notre Dame football team played a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
18
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
The Notre Dame football team played a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
The honor is named after Shaun Alexander, a former Pro Bowl and MVP running back for the Seattle Seahawks who also played for Alabama in 1996-99.
Walton is on the fast track to the award, especially after he was named the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week last month . He was honored following a 181-yard, 2-touchdown performance in the Irish's 58-7 win over Stanford.
In seven games so far this season, Walton has 477 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 69 carries and averages 6.9 yards-per-attempt. He's also caught five passes for 70 yards.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: ND's Jonaz Walton a semifinalist for freshman of the year award
