Former Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has been one of the most consistent risers in the 2026 draft class. Love carved a niche for himself as one of the most potent offensive players in college football last season in South Bend and has been mocked as a possible first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Love has distinguished himself as the standout running back in the class of 2026 and is expected to be the first prospect at his position off the board on draft night.
Jeremiyah Love Draws Top NFL Draft Interest After Breakout Season
In a clip posted on “Notre Dame’s YouTube channel” on Tuesday, Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr lavished praise on Love’s talent and detailed how much latitude the talented running back was given in coach Marcus Freeman’s offensive scheme.
“He’s unbelievable. I think we got to a point last season where it takes a lot of pressure off of me because I don’t have to do much, you just give it to him,” Carr said. “We got to a point where it’s like, ‘We have set formations, but it’s like, dude, do you wanna be in pistol here and run this? You wanna be in gun? What do you want?’
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“That’s just how much trust we had in him that anytime he had the ball in hand, he was dangerous.”
Love’s heroics didn’t stop in South Bend. The former Notre Dame running back was one of the standout performers during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last month, running a stunning 4.36-second time in the 40-yard dash in front of enraptured NFL scouts.
In his latest mock draft, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. predicted that the Tennessee Titans would utilize their No. 4 pick to select Love on draft night, becoming the first running back picked in the top four in eight years.
“We haven’t seen a running back go in the top four since Saquon Barkley (No. 2 in 2018), and the Titans certainly have a long list of issues. But Tennessee is committed to boosting the offense around second-year quarterback Cam Ward, and Love would take the run game to another level while also serving as a dynamic pass catcher,” Kiper wrote.
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“His game features 4.36 speed, excellent vision, run-you-over power and soft hands. Love would be an immediate upgrade over Tony Pollard for new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.”
Last season, Love earned an impressive PFSN College Running Back Impact score of 92.4 after registering 1,372 rushing yards on 199 carries, resulting in 18 touchdowns for the Fighting Irish.
