Jeremiyah Love is a running back and 2026 NFL Draft prospect who played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Love grew up in the Walnut Park neighborhood of St. Louis and came to Notre Dame as a four-star recruit in the 2023 class, ranked among the top five running backs nationally, after choosing the Fighting Irish over Alabama, Michigan, Texas A&M, and Oregon. As a true freshman, he saw rotational time behind Audric Estim and rushed for 385 yards and a touchdown in a reserve role. He assumed the starting role in 2024 and delivered one of the most productive seasons in Notre Dame history, rushing for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns while setting a program record with 13 consecutive games with a rushing score, including a 98-yard touchdown run against Indiana in the College Football Playoff. In 2025, Love continued his ascent, rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns on 199 carries at 6.9 yards per carry, adding 27 receptions for 280 yards and three more scores, breaking the Notre Dame single-season touchdown record with 21. He won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back, earned unanimous All-American honors, was a Heisman Trophy finalist, and finished his career with 2,882 rushing yards, 36 rushing touchdowns, and 63 receptions for 594 yards in three seasons.
Standing 6-0 and 214 pounds with track credentials that include a 10.54-second 100-meter time, Love ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, confirming elite speed in a frame built for every-down usage at the next level. He pairs that speed with exceptional patience and vision in zone-blocking concepts, a powerful running style that generates yards after contact, and the receiving ability to function as a genuine three-down weapon in a modern NFL offense. His ball security throughout his college career was outstanding, and his pass protection awareness gives him the complete profile NFL teams covet in premium backfield investments. Widely considered the consensus RB1 in the 2026 class and a potential top-10 overall pick, Love projects as a franchise-caliber running back with first-round upside as an immediate contributor who can carry an offense from Day 1.
