Jeremiyah Love's NFL Draft Profile Highlights Explosive Athleticism

The Notre Dame running back is projected as a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:07pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a football player in motion, with sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the colors of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish uniform, capturing the dynamic energy of the sport.Jeremiyah Love's explosive athleticism and versatility make him a top prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft.St. Louis Today

Jeremiyah Love, a native of University City, Missouri, has emerged as one of the top running back prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. The 21-year-old standout from Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis showcased an impressive combination of speed, power, and versatility during his three-year career at Notre Dame, setting school records for rushing touchdowns (35) and scrimmage yards (3,014) over the past two seasons.

Why it matters

Love's potential selection in the top five of the 2026 NFL Draft would mark the first time a running back has been taken that high since 2018, when Saquon Barkley was the second overall pick. His combination of game-breaking ability and well-rounded skill set could make him an immediate impact player at the professional level.

The details

At 6-foot-0 and 212 pounds, Love possesses an ideal frame for an NFL running back, with a thick lower body and long arms (78 5/8-inch wingspan). He showcased elite speed, running a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, and displayed excellent burst, with a 1.55-second 10-yard split. Love's vision, patience, and ability to make defenders miss in the open field were also standout traits that contributed to his success in college.

  • Love was born in University City, Missouri, and played youth football starting at age 6 with his father, Jason, as his first coach.
  • As a high school senior in 2022, Love led Christian Brothers College to a state championship and was named the Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year and Missouri Class 6 Offensive Player of the Year.
  • In 2023, Love's first season at Notre Dame, he rushed for 385 yards and 1 touchdown.
  • Over the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Love set Notre Dame records with 35 rushing touchdowns and 3,014 scrimmage yards, winning the Doak Walker Award as the top running back in FBS in 2025.

The players

Jeremiyah Love

A 21-year-old running back from University City, Missouri, who played at Christian Brothers College High School and is now a standout at the University of Notre Dame.

Jason Love

Jeremiyah Love's father, who was his first youth football coach.

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What they’re saying

“Jeremiyah was a little daredevil as a kid, always swinging from the casing above doorways and scaling furniture. It was clear he had a hard time sitting still and only found focus when his competitive nature came out.”

— Jason Love, Jeremiyah Love's father

The takeaway

Jeremiyah Love's elite athleticism, versatility, and production at Notre Dame have positioned him as a potential top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which would make him the first running back selected that high since 2018. His combination of speed, power, and pass-catching ability could make him an immediate impact player at the professional level.