Jeremiyah Lovemissed out on hearing his name called as theHeisman Trophy winnerback in December in New York City after piecing together one of the best all-time seasons by aNotre Damerunning back.
Now, four months and 375 miles away from New York's Lincoln Center, the 6-foot all-around running back will get to hear his name called on a much grander stage atthe 2026 NFL Draft.... And will look to experience it as one of the first players off the board.
"At the end of the day, I'm gonna go somewhere. And it really doesn't matter where I go or what pick I go," Loverecently told USA TODAY Sports."I'm gonna go and do my thing. So, I try not to worry about it because that's just another stressor in my life that I don't need."
NFL mock draft 2026:Where Jeremiyah Love, top RBs could land
Love is a three-down running back whose speed and size have made him not just one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class but one who also can terrorize defenses with his ability to stretch the field and get home run scores going.
Being a projected top-five draft pick by some NFL draft analysts that he is, the Notre Dame running back is in line to make some NFL draft history by becoming the first running back to be taken in the top five since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 overall in 2018 to the New York Giants.
Here's what to know on Love ahead of the NFL draft:
Who is Jeremiyah Love?
Jeremiyah Love is a running back out of Notre Dame who is projected as a first-round pick and one of the top overall draft prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot running back out of St. Louis was a two-year starter for the Irish, posting a career 2,882 rushing yards and 36 career rushing touchdowns in his three seasons in South Bend. He's amassed 3,014 yards from scrimmage and 40 touchdowns over the last two seasons.
A finalist for the Heisman Trophy this season, Love had one of the all-time great seasons by a Notre Dame running back, as he finished with 1,372 rushing yards, which ranks fourth among all Division I FBS players. He also broke Jerome Bettis' single-season team record for most touchdowns in a season this year, with 21.
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He participated in just the 40-yard dash and 10-yard split at the NFL Combine last month in Indianapolis, where he posted a 4.36 time in the 40-yard dash.
"I'm willing to do anything for the team to have success," Love continued. "I can do everything you need me to do. I can play special teams, I can run the ball, you can put me out wide or in the slot and I can receive, I can block, put somebody on their ass, whatever you need me to do. ... Whatever team drafts me is gonna get the best version of me, and I'm gonna put in the work every single day."
Jeremiyah Love NFL draft projections
Love is widely considered the top running back in this year's NFL draft class and one of the top overall prospects in the class. He is rankedas ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr's No. 2-ranked overall prospectin the class.
Here's where NFL draft analysts have Love going in Thursday's draft:
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USA TODAY Sports (Ayrton Ostly, as of April 16): No. 4 to the Tennessee Titans
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USA TODAY Sports (Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, as of April 13): No. 5 to the New York Giants
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ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr., as of April 15): No. 4 to the Titans
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The Athletic (Dane Brugler, as of April 15): No. 7 to the Washington Commanders
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CBS Sports (Ryan Wilson, as of April 13): No. 4 to the Titans
Jeremiyah Love NFL draft scouting report
Here's a scouting report of Love from USA TODAY Sports' Ayrton Ostly:
"The 2026 class features yet another clear-cut No. 1 running back. Love is far and away the top player at the position with a skill set tailored to the modern NFL. He's a three-down running back with size (6-foot, 214 pounds) and breakaway speed to score at any moment. His receiving skills mean he's a true three-down back. He averaged 4.50 yards after contact per attempt this season."
Here's a scouting report of Love from South Bend Tribune's Mike Berardino:
"Jeremiyah Love ran a 4.36 40-yard-dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, second-fastest among running backs but tied for 14th overall with Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green. Love’s video-game moves, including a leap-mode function and a vicious spin cycle, make him a compelling draft target for even the most loaded NFL offense. He fumbled just once in 498 career touches (rushing, receiving and returning) over three seasons at Notre Dame. That happened on the fourth play last Oct. 4 in a home win over Boise State. Love recovered his own fumble."
Jeremiyah Love stats
Here's a breakdown of Love's career stats at Notre Dame:
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2023: 71 carries for 385 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown; eight receptions for 77 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown
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2024: 163 carries for 1,125 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns; 28 receptions for 237 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns
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2025: 199 carries for 1,372 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns; 27 receptions for 280 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Who is Jeremiyah Love? NFL mock projections, report for Notre Dame RB
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