With a quarterback class that is severely lacking this year, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love stands as one of the “most dynamic” prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. While the running back class isn’t necessarily deep either, Love is favored to be an early pick in the first round.
Who could land the star rusher?
Jeremiyah Love to Reinforce Commanders’ Run Game Next to QB Jayden Daniels
The Washington Commanders fell a long way from their NFC Championship appearance in the 2024 season. The car came apart in 2025, and the team didn’t come near the championship game again, missing the playoffs at 5-12.
With a chance to build back to the postseason again now, the front office should focus on loading up on offense to improve on their 22nd league ranking from 2025. While former offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury stayed on after their strong run from 2024, he struggled to extract enough out of the unit last season, largely due to quarterback Jayden Daniels’ injuries.
When Daniels is healthy, he’s one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL. As such, pairing him with another star in the backfield should work wonders, which is where Love comes in.
“Love is the most dynamic offensive player in this class, running a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the combine and averaging 10.4 yards per catch in 2025,” ESPN’s Field Yates wrote. “He would immediately alleviate pressure on quarterback Jayden Daniels, also adding value as a pass protector.”
The other backs that Washington signed also play a role in the equation; nonetheless, Love should fill a clear need at the position.
“While the team signed veterans Rachaad White and Jerome Ford in free agency, make no mistake that the RB room has more than enough room for Love,” Yates wrote. “Seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt is Washington’s only returning RB from 2025.”
Croskey-Merritt took hold of the Commanders’ backfield last season, proving to be among the few durable rushers in a position group that was hammered by Austin Ekeler’s injury.
With White, Ford, and Croskey-Merritt all in the same backfield, Love will likely feature in a committee setup similar to what Kingsbury ran in 2025.
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Love had the fourth-biggest impact as a running back in college football last season (92.4 PFSN CFB RB Impact). Finishing third in the Heisman race, he was an anchor in head coach Marcus Freeman’s offense, putting up 199 carries for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was also very useful in the pass game, recording 27 receptions for 280 yards and 3 scores.
Whether the Commanders invest a high draft pick in the star remains to be seen.
