Jeremiyah Love Rockets Into Top 10 of 2026 NFL Draft Projections After Breakout Season at Notre Dame
With just over 90 days until the 2026 NFL Draft, the spotlight is starting to shift from the postseason to the prospects. And few players have seen their stock rise more dramatically than Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. After a season that bordered on Heisman-worthy, Love is now being projected inside the Top 10 of the draft by longtime NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper - and for good reason.
Let’s start with the numbers, because they’re eye-popping. Love rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025, finishing among the national leaders in nearly every major rushing category.
But it’s not just the production - it’s the way he got there. Love showed elite vision, explosive burst, and the kind of top-end speed that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep.
Add in his ability to contribute as a receiver out of the backfield - 27 catches for 280 yards and three scores - and you’ve got a complete, modern NFL back.
Kiper didn’t hold back in his praise, calling Love the second-best overall prospect on his Big Board, regardless of position. That’s a bold statement, especially in a draft class loaded with quarterback talent and top-tier defensive players.
But it speaks to just how dynamic Love has been. Kiper even floated the idea of Kansas City, picking in the Top 10 for the first time since selecting Patrick Mahomes in 2017, taking Love to pair with their franchise quarterback.
With both Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt hitting free agency, the Chiefs could be looking to inject some serious juice into their ground game - and Love would certainly do that.
At 6-foot, 214 pounds, Love has the frame to handle a full NFL workload, but he plays with the speed and agility of a much smaller back. He’s a nightmare in space, able to make defenders miss or simply run through them.
And when he finds a crease, he’s gone - his long speed is real. He’s also a willing pass catcher, which makes him a three-down threat from Day 1 at the next level.
What makes Love’s season even more impressive is that he wasn’t a one-man show. He shared the Notre Dame backfield with Jadarian Price, who himself rushed for over 600 yards.
That makes Love the only player in the country to rank in the Top 3 in scoring, total touchdowns, and scrimmage yards while splitting carries with another productive back. That kind of efficiency in a timeshare is rare - and NFL teams are paying attention.
The accolades rolled in as expected. Love was named a Unanimous All-American, becoming just the 38th player in Notre Dame’s storied football history to earn that distinction.
His season ranks among the most prolific ever for a Fighting Irish running back, and his skill set translates beautifully to the pro game. He’s not just a college star - he’s built for Sundays.
When you look at the current crop of successful NFL backs - players like Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson - the comparison to Love is easy to make. He brings the same versatility, explosiveness, and ability to impact the game in multiple phases. That’s what makes him such a coveted prospect heading into the draft.
Bottom line: whichever team lands Jeremiyah Love in April isn’t just getting the best running back in the 2026 class - they’re getting a potential game-changer.