Irish backfield a crowded place

No. 9 Notre Dame might find out this season that a stable full of running backs is better than one.

Jafar Armstrong and Tony Jones Jr. are sharing the load in practices, with three underclassmen also pushing for playing time. The previous two seasons, Josh Adams ( 1,430 yards in 2017) and Dexter Williams ( 995 yards in 2018) got most of the carries for the Fighting Irish, but so far a back has not won the job.

Armstrong is a 200- pound junior who came to Notre Dame as an all- state wide receiver from Bishop Miege High School in Kansas before converting to running back during 2018 spring practice.

Jones is a 224- pound senior who played at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Each would like to be the workhorse that their predecessors were. For now, they are comfortable sharing the workload with each other and the other three hopefuls.

“[ Armstrong] keeps me on my toes — I always want to grind and do better,” said Jones. “We’re always trying to one up each other and do better.”

Wisconsin

Receiver Quintez Cephus returned to practice Wednesday, though he is not eligible to play in games yet at least in part because he lacks credits after he was expelled this spring amid sexual assault allegations.

Coach Paul Chryst told reporters at practice that Cephus didn’t get a “ton of reps” but it was “great having him out here.”

The Wisconsin athletic department said earlier this week that Cephus won’t play in games until unspecified “eligibility issues” are resolved. Chryst said the issues revolve around a lack of class credits.

Cephus was suspended from the team in August 2018 after he was charged with second- and third- degree sexual assault. A jury acquitted him Aug. 2. On Monday, Chancellor Rebecca Blank decided to allow him to return to school and rejoin the team.