Notre Dame’s Audric Estime’ Nominated For Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award

DALLAS (FWAA) — Notre Dame’s Audric Estime’ is this week’s nominee for the 2023 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Estime’, a junior, has become one of the nation’s top running backs after losing his mother to sickle cell anemia.

“Before every game I get on my knee and I talk to my mother,” Estime’ told Fox Sports. “I tell her to watch out for me, pray for me.”

A single mother and registered nurse, Bertha Noisette died in 2013 after being in hospice for a week. She was just 41. Estime’, who was 10 at the time of his mother’s passing, calls his aunt, Marise Fede, his hero because she took him and his brother Khadar in and cared for them after Noisette’s passing.

While living with his aunt and uncle, Estime’ looked up to his cousin Terrence Fede, who was also his godfather. Fede was a defensive end at Marist College who was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2014, providing Estime’ a blueprint to follow.

The 5-foot-11.5, 227-pound Estime’ has started in all nine games for the 7-2, 15th-ranked Irish. He is tied for fourth nationally in rushing touchdowns (12) and is No. 9 nationally in rushing yards (901). He has 13 catches for 109 yards as well.

Estime’ amassed 130 yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns in Notre Dame’s 58-7 win Saturday over Pitt. Across 34 career games, the Nyack, N.Y., native has rushed for 1,881 yards and 23 touchdowns, while catching 22 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown.

Estime’ has one tattoo: Roman numerals of his mother’s birthday on his left arm.

“Everything I do, she’s with me,” Estime’ told Fox. “She lives on forever within me.”

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