SOUTH BEND, Ind. – True freshman running back Jonaz Walton has been named the Shaun Alexander Award Freshman of the Week following his record-breaking performance in Notre Dame’s 58-7 win over Stanford on Saturday.
Walton rushed for a Notre Dame true freshman-record 181 yards on just 13 carries (13.9 yards per carry), surpassing Josh Adams’ 168-yard performance at Stanford on Nov. 28, 2015. His 181 rushing yards were the most by a freshman nationally this past weekend, while his 13.9 yards per carry led all FBS players with a minimum of 10 attempts.
On the first play of the second quarter against the Cardinal, Walton broke through the line of scrimmage and raced 97 yards for a touchdown, the first score of his career. The run was the third-longest play in Notre Dame Stadium history and the second-longest rush by an Irish true freshman in program history. It also marked the fifth touchdown run of 90 or more yards by an Irish running back at Notre Dame Stadium since 2015. Walton finished with two rushing touchdowns on the day, adding a 40-yard score early in the fourth quarter.
Walton became the fifth Irish true freshman since 1972 to record consecutive 100-yard rushing games and the first since Josh Adams in 2015, after rushing for 120 yards against North Carolina the previous week.
Walton finished with a team-high 209 total yards, adding two receptions for 28 yards. His 209 total yards surpassed Stanford’s team total of 202 yards of offense. Walton also earned a 90.1 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF), the second-highest mark among all running backs over the weekend.
Walton’s breakout performance helped fuel a dominant Notre Dame effort, as the Irish extended their winning streak to 16 consecutive games decided by double digits, dating back to Sept. 20, 2025. The streak is the longest active in the FBS and the longest in program history, while ranking tied for the third-longest in college football history.
Walton and the second-ranked Irish hit the road Saturday for a top-10 showdown against eighth-ranked BYU. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.