Over many years, the running back position was downgraded in importance in the NFL Draft, and that led to many talented backs sliding lower than where they should have gone. Two of the NFL’s current top backs, Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor, were second-round picks because of this belief. However, in recent years, teams have gone back to being interested in taking running backs in the first round. In 2023, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs went in the top dozen. Last year, Ashton Jeanty was selected in the top six. For the 2026 NFL Draft, teams see another potential high first-round pick, and that is Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love.
“Love is really good,” said an NFC national scout. “Love is in the Saquon category.”
In 2025, Love has averaged 6.4 yards per carry for 1,135 yards with 14 touchdowns. He has 26 catches for 274 yards with three touchdowns receiving, and Love has blocked well in pass protection. In 2024, Love had a breakout season for the Fighting Irish, producing a lot of clutch plays to help the Irish reach the National Championship. As a sophomore, Love averaged 6.9 yards per carry for 1,125 yards with 17 touchdowns. He also caught 28 passes for 237 yards. The 6-foot, 214-pound Love has a strong build and is a physical downhill runner with breakaway speed. This season, he has done an exceptional job in blitz protection and has been an athletic receiver. Sources were unanimous that Love is a true three-down starter.
In speaking with sources at five teams, they all felt that Love was a better prospect than Jeanty was last year coming out of Boise State. One AFC director of player personnel said he thought Love was of a similar caliber to other backs that have gone in the top 10 over the past decade, like Barkley, Robinson, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, and Christian McCaffrey. Some sources did not hold Love in quite that high opinion.
“Fringe [top 10],” said an NFC national scout. “Not quite as freaky as those guys were, but he is pretty damn good, and this draft isn’t really top-heavy.
Others had a different opinion. One NFC director of player personnel who knows Love very well and has been with some of these other backs in the NFL was very high on Love, “That’s a good group, but Jeremiyah is more talented than Zeke and Fournette. He’s not as big as those two, but Jeremiyah is more gifted. Christian is an anomaly. Jeremiyah is in the Jah, Bijan, and Barkley realm. [Jeremiyah] doesn’t have the physical gifts the others have, but has just worked and willed himself into a special player. [Jeremiyah’s] intangibles are crazy good.”
Sources from a number of teams feel the 2026 NFL Draft does not have a lot of elite talent, and that could help Love to be a top-10 pick. In my latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, I have Love going in the top eight, and from speaking with team sources, that is very possible for the 2026 NFL Draft.
