Notre Dame Football: 5 Toughest RBs Fighting Irish Will Face in 2016

The front seven of Notre Dame football in 2016 could be the team's weakness, but the unit has several excellent chances to silence the critics.

In addition to facing college football's most versatile running back, the Fighting Irish will attempt to contain two of the nation's most dangerous tandems and a couple of other standouts.

Although the ranking is subjective, we believe the following players—and duos—will be the toughest for Notre Dame to limit in 2016.

James Butler (Nevada), Matt Dayes (North Carolina State) and Travon McMillian (Virginia Tech) just missed the cut. Who earned a spot?

5. D'Onta Foreman, Texas

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When the Irish leveled a 38-3 smackdown of Texas last season, D'Onta Foreman recorded just three carries. It didn't take him much longer to demand a larger role.

Foreman amassed 144 yards on 20 total touches against TCU and followed up that performance with 117 rushing yards on nine carries during the Longhorns' stunning 24-17 win over Oklahoma.

The 6'0", 241-pounder notched a pair of 147-plus-yard contests before a hand injury ended his sophomore campaign.

Not only is Foreman the clear-cut starter after Johnathan Gray's graduation, but Texas hired Sterlin Gilbert as offensive coordinator. His uptempo spread offense will result in tons of carries for Foreman.

4. LJ Scott, Michigan State

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Michigan State has a deep backfield with a trio of co-starters, but LJ Scott should handle the largest workload. After all, he's the one receiving Le'Veon Bell comparisons.

Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi, who served as MSU's defensive coordinator for eight years, was Scott's primary recruiter. Narduzzi shared his initial reaction with ESPN's Adam Rittenberg: "If he looks like [Bell] and runs like him, we have to take this guy."

Scott paced the Spartans with 699 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. The 6'0", 238-pounder is certain to take a powerful step forward in his development this year.

3. Joseph Yearby and Mark Walton, Miami

Most of the attention paid to late-October opponent Miami focuses on its quarterback, potential first-round NFL draft pick Brad Kaaya. But the Hurricanes have a tremendous pair of running backs, too.

Last season, Joseph Yearby registered 1,002 yards and six touchdowns. Mark Walton added 461 yards and nice scores. 

Yearby is a one-cut slasher who regularly falls forward, while Walton is a shifty, dynamic playmaker. Additionally, both talents are willing receivers, as evidenced by Yearby's 23 catches and Walton's 22.

Although Miami's offensive line struggled mightily in 2015, the entire unit is back in a more conventional pro-style system under Mark Richt. Improving the running game is a must and will likely be accomplished.

Yearby and Walton will present a formidable test alongside Kaaya.

2. Ronald Jones II and Justin Davis, USC

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Though USC didn't run the ball often against the Irish in 2015, Ronald Jones II and Justin Davis found plenty of space when provided the chance. They combined for 125 yards on 13 carries.

And this season, the Trojans return their entire offensive line.

Notre Dame has its eyes on the College Football Playoff, but USC could slam the door during the November 26 showdown in Los Angeles.

Should that happen, it's a safe bet Jones and Davis will have been major contributors for the Trojans. Both players have a legitimate opportunity to eclipse the 1,000-yard barrier in 2016.

1. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

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Rumor has it this Christian McCaffrey fella is pretty good. He's only the country's leading returning rusher from 2015.

Additionally, the Stanford superstar piled up a Football Bowl Subdivision single-season record with 3,864 yards. McCaffrey—in addition to his return duties—had 2,019 rushing and 645 receiving yards, accounting for 17 total touchdowns.

"I mean, what doesn't he do?" former USC linebacker Su'a Cravens said last season, per Lindsay Schnell of Sports Illustrated. "He catches the ball in the backfield, makes the guy miss and takes it to the house. He rushes the ball inside and on the edge and, really, can score with any play they draw up for him. He's just a special guy."

Notre Dame held McCaffrey to just 3.5 yards per carry on 27 attempts, his second-lowest average of the 2015 campaign. Duplicating that feat would be spectacular, though quite unlikely.

Stats from CFBStats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.