Former Coaches Praise Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love Ahead of NFL Draft

Brian Kelly and Mike Smith highlight the star running back's elite talent and potential ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 6:52pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Notre Dame football player in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape representing the explosive athleticism of a star running back.Jeremiyah Love's dynamic running style and big-play ability have earned him high praise from former coaches ahead of the NFL Draft.South Bend Today

As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, former Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly and ex-Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith have both offered high praise for former Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love. Kelly relayed that current Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock believes Love is the best player he's ever coached, while Smith described Love as a 'walking chunk play' with elite speed and production at the college level.

Why it matters

Love is projected to be a top-10 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, potentially becoming the first non-offensive lineman from Notre Dame to go that high since 1993. The glowing endorsements from respected coaches like Kelly and Smith further cement Love's status as one of the most talented running back prospects in recent memory.

The details

Love, a Heisman Trophy finalist, rushed for 6.9 yards per carry over his two seasons as a starter at Notre Dame. However, his yards-per-carry numbers dipped against some of the top defenses the Fighting Irish faced, raising questions about how he may fare against elite NFL competition without dominant offensive line play in front of him.

  • Love was part of Notre Dame's 2023 recruiting class, after Brian Kelly had departed the program.
  • Kelly is now potentially heading to CBS as a sports analyst.

The players

Jeremiyah Love

A star running back who is projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after a standout career at Notre Dame.

Brian Kelly

The former head coach of the Notre Dame football team, who left the program following the 2021 season.

Mike Denbrock

The current offensive coordinator at Notre Dame, who previously worked with Brian Kelly and believes Love is the best player he's ever coached.

Mike Smith

The former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who praised Love's elite speed and production at the college level.

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What they’re saying

“Mike Denbrock believes Jeremiyah Love is the best player he's ever had.”

— Brian Kelly, Former Notre Dame Head Coach

“Love is in the mold of a Bijan (Robinson). He is a walking chunk play with his 4.36 speed. He will get you chunks of yards. In his career at Notre Dame, he had 433 rushing attempts, and 43 went for 15+ yards. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry in his two seasons as a starter. That is extremely impressive.”

— Mike Smith, Former Atlanta Falcons Head Coach

What’s next

Love will look to solidify his status as a top-10 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, where he is expected to be one of the first running backs selected.

The takeaway

Jeremiyah Love's elite production and potential at the college level have earned him high praise from respected coaches like Brian Kelly and Mike Smith, further cementing his status as one of the top running back prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class.