As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, few prospects carry more momentum than Jeremiyah Love. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football star has long been viewed as the clear top running back in the class, a Heisman finalist, an offensive centerpiece, and one of the top overall talents available.
So when Love stepped to the line at the NFL Combine and ripped off a blazing 4.36-second 40-yard dash, most evaluators saw confirmation of his elite explosiveness.
Love, however, saw something else.
Notre Dame Star Jeremiyah Love Sets Higher Bar After 4.36 Dash
Despite posting one of the fastest times among running backs, Love admitted afterward that he was “disappointed.” Not because 4.36 is slow, far from it, but because his standard is even higher.
Jeremiyah Love just said he’s “disappointed” with his 40-yard dash.
He says he wanted to run something in the 4.2s. https://t.co/V3Qk2z0Mp8
— Drew Mentock (@AndrewMentock) February 28, 2026
Love reportedly entered the Combine aiming for the 4.2 range, chasing a time that would firmly place him among the rarest size-speed athletes at the position. That internal expectation speaks volumes. While many prospects would celebrate a 4.36 as a career-defining achievement, Love viewed it as a benchmark, not a finish line.
Still, he acknowledged the significance of the moment. After months of preparation and years of work refining his speed and mechanics, Love expressed pride in the result. He recognized the improvement. He respected the process. His hard work throughout his time in college has skyrocketed his draft stock, and when you run that fast at the combine, it only reaffirms how the PFSN consensus big board has him as RB1 and a top 6 overall prospect.
That reaction actually perfectly aligns with the mindset Love has embraced throughout his college career, advice instilled by head coach Marcus Freeman that he brought up during his combine interview with reporters: “Choose hard.”
It’s more than a slogan inside the Notre Dame program. It’s a daily commitment to pushing limits. If something feels comfortable, it probably isn’t maximizing growth. If a result feels good, there’s still another level to chase.
Running a 4.36 at the Combine would validate most players. For Love, it simply reinforces that there’s more work to do.
Jeremiyah Love’s 4.36 Combine Run Backs Up His RB1 Draft Hype
Love’s Combine performance only strengthens what teams already saw on film. He posted a 92.4 PFSN CFB RB Impact Score this past season, fourth-best nationally. He rushed for 1,372 yards (fourth in the FBS), added 280 receiving yards, and scored 18 rushing touchdowns, third-most in the country.
He isn’t just fast. He’s decisive through the hole, patient behind blocks, explosive at the second level, and reliable as a receiver. The 4.36 confirms his long-speed translates. The disappointment reveals his mentality.
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In today’s draft landscape, where running backs are often devalued, it takes something special to separate from the pack. Love’s tape already placed him in rare company. His athletic testing backed it up. But what may ultimately elevate him further is his refusal to settle.
A 4.36 is elite. To love is its motivation. As the draft buzz intensifies, that mindset could be the most important number of all. Because if he’s “disappointed” after a performance most prospects would celebrate, it means the ceiling may still be higher. And for Jeremiyah Love, the work is far from finished.
