Notre Dame Football: Is Cierre Wood Most Underrated RB in College?

Notre Dame’s Cierre Wood isn’t just the most underrated running back in college football, he’s the most underrated player.

Wood reminds me of Philadelphia Eagles superstar third-year RB LeSean McCoy. Like “Shady” McCoy, Wood has supreme agility and quickness. His cut-back ability is second-to-none at this level.

His vision has been impressive to begin the season as has been making nearly ever cut at the right time. He isn't a massive back, which allows him to fit between smaller holes to gain positive yardage.

He was on most people’s radar list to breakout after last season’s stellar campaign, but he’s been off the charts for the Fighting Irish.

Most want to look at the two opening losses for Notre Dame, but we can’t pin that on Wood, who did just about everything in his power to put his team in position to win.

You don't hear people mentioning Wood with the likes of Oregon's LaMichael James, South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore or Alabama's Trent Richardson.

He's even overshadowed on his own team by superstar WR Michael Floyd.

His early-season success includes two-straight 100-yard performances to open the year. He’s already accumulated 299 yards and four touchdowns on 60 carries.

It is evident that his hard work this offseason is paying immense dividends. It is impossible not to respect his efforts and training regiment to prepare himself for a heavy workload and to fulfill his potential as one of the best runners in the nation.

He put critics to shame by working out heavily this offseason. Through three games, he’s displayed more power than I could imagine at this point in his career.

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“On heavy days, it was five sets each of bench, incline and decline presses. Then a set of burnouts: High reps at low weight to low reps at high weight and back again. Then some work with ropes. Then it was on to the board, working on balance, catching various sized orbs hurled his way.

Then a run. Monday through Friday, every day at dawn.

‘Turns out, I get the best results in the morning,’ Wood said. 'Everybody else is still sleeping and you're wide awake, working hard,’” Wood said according to Chicago Tribune’s Brian Hamilton.'"

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Wood understands sacrifice. He understands that hard work pays off and that nothing will be handed to him. He seems like the player that will forever play with a chip on his shoulder, which is the greatest way to play this beloved and unforgiving sport.

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‘”You see a lot of these guys on TV, see the draft parties and all this other stuff,’ Wood said. ‘Me personally, I never had money. That's something I really want. If you really want something, I don't know about everybody else, but I'm willing to work as hard as I can until I do have that.

I was kind of poor growing up. My mother, she sacrificed everything she had for me and mine. I want to make it to where anything she wants, she can have, without asking or hesitation. Right now, I have tunnel vision. Nothing is in my way. I'm going to do what I have to do,’” Wood said according to Hamilton.

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It is this drive and determination that will forever motivate Wood to exceed his expectations. We have only seen the tip of the iceberg of his skills, but he has already been phenomenal to begin the season.

At this rate, he will surely be considered one of the top runners in the country and should be a first-round talent whenever he enters the NFL draft.

He is an all-purpose threat on the field and will excel throughout his career. He is improving in pass-protection, but he is already a fantastic receiver.

He may not be a Heisman hopeful due to Notre Dame’s early-season woes, but certainly has the skills to fight for the individual award. Wood will continue to dominate by slicing-and-dicing defense on the ground and exploiting mismatches in the passing game.