Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love Deflects Draft Hype, Focuses on 'Choose Hard' Advice

Love credits Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman's mantra as he surges toward the 2026 NFL Draft

Feb. 28, 2026 at 1:07am

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As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is generating significant buzz as one of the top overall prospects in the class. However, instead of embracing the spotlight, Love is deflecting the hype and pointing to the advice he received from head coach Marcus Freeman to 'choose hard' and focus on improving day-by-day.

Why it matters

Love's humble and hardworking approach stands out in an era where shortcuts and instant gratification are often tempting for top prospects. His commitment to the grind has helped him become one of college football's most dominant players, and it could give him an edge as he looks to translate that success to the NFL.

The details

Love posted a 92.4 PFSN CFB RB Impact Score, good for fourth-best among all running backs in the country. He finished fourth nationally in rushing yards with 1,372, while adding 280 receiving yards, reinforcing his value as a complete, three-down weapon. His 18 rushing touchdowns ranked third in the FBS. Evaluators have compared Love to elite prospects like Bijan Robinson and Saquon Barkley, whose talent forced teams to overlook the declining positional value narrative for running backs.

  • Love was a Heisman finalist in the 2026 season.

The players

Jeremiyah Love

A standout running back at the University of Notre Dame who is widely viewed as one of the top overall prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class.

Marcus Freeman

The head coach of the Notre Dame football team, who has instilled a 'choose hard' mentality in his players, including Love.

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What they’re saying

“Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love says his mindset is 'Choose hard,' advice he got from ND coach Marcus Freeman, saying if it's easy it isn't good for you. 'Just go day by day, working, find ways to get better.'”

— Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame Running Back (Twitter)

The takeaway

Jeremiyah Love's humble and hardworking approach, rooted in the 'choose hard' mantra instilled by his coach Marcus Freeman, has helped him become one of the most dominant players in college football. As he prepares for the 2026 NFL Draft, Love's mindset and commitment to the grind could give him an edge over other top prospects who may be tempted by shortcuts or instant gratification.