If Jeremiyah Love wasn’t already one of the top overall players entering the 2026 NFL Draft, he solidified himself at the NFL Scouting Combine by impressing scouts with a dazzling 4.36 40-yard dash time that only highlighted his ability as a dynamic running back.
A Heisman runner up in 2025, Love turned a slow start at Notre Dame to begin the season into an outstanding season. Not only did he help fuel Notre Dame’s turnaround, but he also showcases his top-level playmaking ability by rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns while hauling in 27 receptions, for 280 yards.
In all, a career at Notre Dame that will be one of the most memorable stints in school hisory for a running back who is destined to shine as a potential top 5 pick at the next level.
Jeremiyah Love NFL Draft profile
- Position: Running Back
- College: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Height/Weight: 6-0, 212 lbs
- Hometown: St. Louis, MO
- 40-yard Dash: 4.36 seconds
2025 Stats (Regular Season):
- Rushing: 1,372 rushing yards, 18 TD, 6.9 Yards per Carry
- Receiving 27 receptions, 280 receiving yards, 3 TD
- Career Stats: 2,882 rushing yards, 36 TD, 6.7 Yards Per Carry, 63 receptions, 594 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns
JEREMIYAH LOVE GOES 98 YARDS FOR THE TOUCHDOWN 😱 pic.twitter.com/SSAjPnrRtt
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 21, 2024
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Strengths:
- There are not many limitations to Love’s running back style. Quick in hitting holes with breakaway speed in the open field.
- Possesses great balance on contact.
- With just one fumble in over 490 career touches, Love is reliable with the ball in his hand and clutch in big moments.
- Ability to use patience and vision in finding holes while manipulating defenders with his quickness, agility and athleticism.
- A touchdown waiting to happen from anywhere on the field.
- His leadership ability stands out as he plays the game with maturity.
- A three-down back who can excel as the lead back while also shift into more of a receiver role in passing situations on third down.
- His route-running abilities will also make him a receiver threat on most NFL teams.
Weaknesses:
- Pass catching ability not utilized as much as they should be.
- There is concern about Love’s physicality as a running back. Not known as a short yardage type back in power situations.
- Does need to work on his pass protection. If he is going to be a third-down back at the next level, inconstancy in picking up blitzes will be a limitation.
- While athletic, tries to hurdle defenders too much. Although the ability is a strength, it could also be something that leads to injury.
- Love hasn’t carried the ball over 20 times a game very often so there is some concern when it comes to his workload ability. This shouldn’t be an issue on a team with another top level back, but if Love is asked to handle most of the workload as a running back, his attrition will be challenged.
NFL Outlook:
A dual-threat, impact running back, Jeremiyah Love is primed for a productive NFL career. Not only is he a homerun threat whenever he touches the ball in the backfield, he is a quarterback’s best friend as a dump down target who can also run routes and serve as a receiver. Speaking of that pass-catching ability, Love still has some growth to work on in that area. He has the skillset, but didn’t have as many opportunities at Notre Dame as one would like. Get him in the right system at the next level and that part of his game could make him the ultimate offensive threat for the team that drafts him.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying:
"Love is a dynamic weapon as a runner and receiver. On inside runs, he runs high/narrow, but he explodes to and through the hole. He will drop a level lower on contact and has the lower-leg drive to bounce off defenders. He doesn’t always let things develop because he can get skinny through narrow passages. He has elite speed on outside runs to capture the corner and take it the distance. He has a rare ability to make defenders miss without gearing down. His spin move is electric. In the passing game, he can run routes like a wideout. He’s smooth, polished and natural. He plucks the ball effortlessly."Daniel Jeremiah
NFL pro comparison:
While Love has drawn comparisons to current NFL running back Jahmyr Gibbs, his overall production will remind longtime NFL fans of Reggie Bush coming out of USC. Similar in size, Love compares to Bush in the way he can impact the field no matter where he lines up on the field. Though Bush didn’t have the dominant NFL career as projected, he was a player who punished defenders when he lined up in the backfield as a running back and created mismatches when he lined up as a receiver. Love offers those same qualities, and the hope is he has more of the sudden impact of Gibbs.
Prospect Grade:
First Round: Top 5