Jeremiyah Love is widely considered to be one of the top overall prospects in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft class. The superstar running back is expected to attend the Combine, but many are wondering whether he will participate in the drills. NFL insider Tom Pelissero recently provided an update on his plans.
Top RB Prospect Jeremiyah Love To Compete at NFL Combine
Most around the NFL have Love at the top of their running back rankings for the 2026 draft class of upcoming prospects. His elite outlook has sparked speculation that he may choose to sit out drills at the Combine this year, as many believe there’s not much he can do to improve his already excellent draft stock.
This potential approach is fairly common among certain prospects, and considering his status as the consensus top running back, some believe he can only hurt his projected pick position and can’t really improve it at this point.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish superstar may disagree with this theory after Pelissero revealed his rumored plan for the Combine.
“Jeremiyah Love, the Notre Dame running back, I am told is expected to participate in drills. He is likely to run a 40, the number-two player on Daniel Jeremiah’s board of the top 50 players in this draft, we’ll see Love on the field,” reported Pelissero.
We’re live from Indianapolis, where many of the 2026 NFL Draft’s top prospects — including Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State edge Arvell Reese — are expected to work out this week at the combine. @gmfb @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/TIbuNQX0sw
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 23, 2026
If he were to sit out of the Combine, most believe that he would still be the top running back picked this year to the first team targeting a prospect at the position.
His willingness to risk this potential status is a credit to his character and demonstrates confidence in his elite abilities. His performances on the football field during his college career gave him confidence in himself.
Love finished last season at fourth among all running backs in the entire country in PFSN’s Impact Rankings for the position. He is also ranked 16th in the season before and has been the engine that drives Notre Dame’s offense. He has exceeded 3,000 scrimmage yards and totaled 40 touchdowns as their starter across those two seasons.
His final season also included his selection as an All-American and a third-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting, trailing only Fernando Mendoza and Diego Pavia. It will be interesting to see where he falls in the draft, but most expect him to be picked somewhere in the first round.
