It’s fair to say that Jeremiyah Love is eager to prove himself. Having signed a four-year, $53 million contract with a fifth-year option, the 21-year-old will want to hit the ground running with the Arizona Cardinals. Having spent three seasons at Notre Dame, the running back has shown exactly what he’s capable of, but proving his talent in the NFL will be a different challenge entirely. Perhaps that’s why he wants to play to his strengths.
Jeremiyah Love Is Confident About His Versatility
Love recently participated in his first organized team activities with the Cardinals in May and was tried out as a kick returner by head coach Mike LaFleur. The former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator didn’t rule out using Love in that role someday, a prospect the Missouri native is looking forward to.
“It’d be a great opportunity to showcase more of my skills because I can be a kick returner; I would have no problem with doing that,” Love said in an exclusive interview with Ratings.
“If they need me to go out there and play kick return and be the returner or the off returner or whatever it may be, I’m gonna go out there and do it,” he added. “I have no problems with that. I’m actually looking forward to exploring more about me being a kick returner and stuff like that.”
Over the last three years, Love has shown time and again that he’s a force to be reckoned with. He featured in 41 games, amassing 2,882 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns on 433 carries, while recording 63 receptions for 594 yards and six receiving touchdowns.
According to PFSN’s CFB RB Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 92.4 last year, ranking fourth in the nation. Now, he’s eager to make an even bigger impact with the Cardinals, especially after finishing his final season as a Unanimous All-American.
“Any opportunity to get the ball in my hands and do something with it, it’s great for me,” Love said. “I’m blessed to be able to do that because not everybody gets to touch the ball. So in whatever way or form it takes, me being able to make plays, I’m all for it. Whether it’s kick return or punt return, or whatever it may be.”
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Getting a quality playmaker has been a priority for the Cardinals this offseason, and in Love, they may have found a long-term option.
Earlier, they had signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency, who will join James Conner and Trey Benson in the running back room, who were recovering from season-ending injuries in 2025. But in Love, they have a top-ranked prospect of this year’s draft, somebody who can instantly factor into the top of the Cardinals’ depth chart.
“What’s unique about (Love), in my opinion, is all three phases,” LaFleur said in April. “What I mean by all three phases is the run game, the pass game, and protection. He has the ability to mix in all of those.”
Having won the Doak Walker Award as the country’s best running back in 2025, all eyes will be on Love and whether he will be given the opportunity to showcase his skills with the Cardinals. Given his numbers for the Fighting Irish, it’s likely LaFleur will play to his strengths and give the rookie every opportunity to succeed at the highest level.
