Brian Kelly Makes Case for Jeremiyah Love as Top 3 NFL Draft Pick

Former Notre Dame and LSU coach believes running back 'changes the temperature in the room'

Apr. 16, 2026 at 3:52am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a running back in motion, with sharp planes of Notre Dame and LSU team colors, conveying the raw athleticism and transformative potential of the player.A cubist interpretation of a top NFL running back prospect's dynamic movements and the cultural impact he could have on a franchise.Indianapolis Today

Brian Kelly, the former head coach at Notre Dame and LSU, believes that running back Jeremiyah Love should be selected within the top three picks of the 2026 NFL Draft. Kelly praised Love's speed, toughness, and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, but also highlighted his unique ability to change the culture and energy of a locker room.

Why it matters

Running backs have not been selected in the top three picks of the NFL Draft since 2018, when Saquon Barkley went #2 overall. If Kelly's assessment of Love is accurate, he could become the first running back taken that high in nearly a decade, potentially reshaping the top of the draft board.

The details

In the 2022 season at Notre Dame, Love rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns on 199 attempts (6.9 yards per carry). He also added 27 receptions for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns. At the NFL Combine, Love ran a 4.36 40-yard dash, the second-fastest time among running backs. Kelly believes Love's unique blend of skills and his ability to change the culture of a locker room make him worthy of a top-3 selection, which would put him in line to be the first running back taken that high since Saquon Barkley in 2018.

  • Love is expected to be the first running back taken off the board during the 2026 NFL Draft next week.
  • This past season at Notre Dame, Love rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The players

Jeremiyah Love

A running back prospect expected to be a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, known for his speed, toughness, and ability to change the culture of a locker room.

Brian Kelly

The former longtime head coach at Notre Dame who most recently spent four seasons as the head coach at LSU.

Saquon Barkley

A running back who was selected #2 overall by the New York Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft, the last time a running back was taken that high.

Breece Hall

A running back for the New York Jets who is coming off the first 1,000-yard season of his career.

James Conner

A veteran running back for the Arizona Cardinals who had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons before missing most of the 2025 season with an ankle injury.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You can make the case that he's going to change the locker room in the way that he comes to work every day. He's in a unique blend as a player. I think what we've all talked about that is his speed, his toughness, all of those things, catching the ball out of the backfield. I just think he changes the temperature of the room.”

— Brian Kelly, Former Notre Dame and LSU Head Coach

What’s next

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place on April 23, where teams selecting in the top three picks, including the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, will have to decide whether to take Jeremiyah Love as high as Kelly believes he should go.

The takeaway

Jeremiyah Love's unique combination of elite physical tools and his ability to transform a team's culture could make him one of the first players off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft, potentially breaking a recent trend of running backs being selected lower in the first round.