Jeremiyah Love is a Name to Know

In every draft, there are names to know, and in the 2026 NFL Draft, one of those names is Jeremiyah Love.

He’s a Notre Dame running back, and he leaves an impression. He left an impression on his opponents, and he left an impression on me.

Love can do it all.

There’s nothing he can’t do. Well, I take that back, I didn’t see him kick or pass the ball.

Love combines blazing home-run hitting speed with power to give defenders all they can handle, and the scary thing for opponents is he’s getting better each time out.

How so?

He’s becoming more patient and comfortable as he is growing into the position.

Selflessness

This is Love’s top trait.

While selflessness is not as glitzy or glamorous as his highlights, it’s one of the things that has me sold on Love at this point. It’s an important trait in a team sport.

It showed up in his blocking.

It showed up in his blitz pickup. I charted 24 times he picked up the blitz in my notes.

He blocks like he runs.

Vision

Love has great vision.

The way he can see even the slightest of creases is special.

There weren’t too many times he was stonewalled or tackled for a loss; that’s another confirmation. If there is any space in front of him, he’s going to see it and run through it.

Determination

Prospects can have all the natural ability in the world, but it’s the level of “want” that separates them.

Love explodes through the line of scrimmage, and he makes defenders who are attempting to tackle him pay.

Love has one goal every time he touches the ball.

Get as many yards as he can.

Any concerns?

His role and his longevity.

A couple of things here about Love ⎯

• He had between 4-16 carries per game (average of 10.2 carries per game)
• Right knee injury vs. USC

Love was a rotational back in Notre Dame’s offensive attack, and because he runs so hard, he wears down not only defenses, but he also wears himself down. The injury affected him as the Fighting Irish reached the postseason, and he had to wear a knee brace. This didn’t seem to hinder his running ability, but it did limit the number of carries he had against Georgia (6) and Ohio State (4).

The 10.2 average carries per game need to increase if he wants to shoulder the load as a franchise back in the NFL, or the team that drafts him needs to feature him in a running back by committee approach.

The top 10 NFL running backs who gained the most yardage in 2024 (average number of carries per game):

• Saquon Barkley (PHI): 21.6
• Jonathan Taylor (IND): 21.6
• Kyren Williams (LAR): 19.8
• Derrick Henry (BLT): 19.1
• Bijan Robinson (ATL): 17.9
• Josh Jacobs (GB): 17.7
• Chuba Hubbard (CAR): 16.7
• Aaron Jones Sr. (MIN): 15.0
• Jahmyr Gibbs (DET): 14.7
• Bucky Irving (TB): 12.1

* Gibbs and Irving are closest to Love’s average per-game number of carries

#4 Jeremiyah Love 6-foot-0, 214 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Summer Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a First-round prospect as of August 7, 2025

2024 game film evaluated: Texas A&M, Northern Illinois, Purdue, Miami-Ohio, Louisville, Stanford, Georgia Tech, Navy, FSU, Virginia, Army, USC, Indiana, Georgia, Penn State, and Ohio State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Ran track in high school

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Explosive downhill runner. Energetic. Tough. Physical. Smooth. Fluid. Squeezes gaps hard. Good initial acceleration and runs like a track runner with building speed once he breaks away. Shifty cut-back jump-cut runner. Quick feet. Strong leg drive in heavy traffic areas. Excellent contact balance. Can stiff-arm and spin off tackles. Consistently tests defenses. Good at setting up defenders with a move. Proficient at making the first man miss. Can run a little high at times. Slight hip tightness. Confident hands catching. Plucks the ball. Dependable safety valve.

What to watch for during the 2025 college football season

1. Does he pick up where he left off?

2. Stays healthy?

3. Average number of carries per game?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.