Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love tabbed as No. 1 RB in 2026 NFL Draft

Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love is generating considerable buzz this offseason.

And for good reason.

The 6-foot, 206-pound ball-carrier rushed for 1,127 yards and 17 touchdowns last fall and is widely considered a lock for preseason All-American honors.

But it goes far deeper than that.

Love opened with the best odds of any running back in America to win the Heisman at +4500.

While that undeniably puts him in the "longshot" category, that appears to have everything to do with the fact that Heisman Trophy has largely become a "nation's best quarterback" award - with the glaring recent example of two-way standout Travis Hunter. 

In NFL Draft circles, Love is also receiving plenty of praise.

In a recent ESPN article, Matt Miller and Jordan Reid both picked their top five prospects at each position for the 2026 NFL draft.

Love took the No. 1 spot for both analysts, while Miller's No. 2 (Texas running back C.J. Baxter) was left off Reid's list completely and Reid's No. 2 (Penn State's Nicholas Singleton) came in at No. 5 for Miller.

What does that mean?

Well, it seems pretty clear that Love has separated himself from the pack.

In a very early 2026 NFL mock draft, Pro Football Network had Love going No. 10 overall to the Los Angeles Rams.

"Jeremiyah Love isn’t far from the Ashton Jeanty comparisons you’ll hear in this class. He’s a dynamic, three-down runner with impressive burst, vision, balance, and fluid cuts. He’d be a natural fit as the primary back for Sean McVay in Los Angeles."

A big season is in store for Love in South Bend.

Buckle up!