FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
- 2026 NFL Draft Guide
- 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Dynasty Content & Advice
2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jeremiyah Love
Jeremiyah Love (RB – Notre Dame)
6-foot-0 | 215 Pounds
Background
Jeremiyah Love was a four-star recruit who backed up eventual fifth-round pick Audric Estime as a freshman, finishing the year with 71-385-1 (5.4) and eight catches before taking over the starting role the following year and going 163-1,125-17 (6.9) with a 28-237-2 receiving line.
Love had an equally impressive junior year line of 199-1,372-18 (6.9) rushing and 27-280-3 receiving, finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Positives
Highly productive two-year starter for a major program, often running between the tackles on inside zone and sweep/off-tackle concepts from the shotgun, with some gap scheme runs mixed in. Love really looks the part of a feature back, with a thick build for the position. Shows impressive patience and vision, making good decisions in the backfield; overall ability to set up blocks might be his best trait as a player.
The Notre Dame prospect has clean footwork and knows how to use stutter-steps and changes of pace. Can recognize and hit cutback lanes. Skinnies through creases effectively, especially for a big-bodied back. Has impressive flexibility, bend and balance for such a large back. Can make defenders miss in the hole with cuts and an impressive spin move, which he uses frequently. Offers the long speed to hit him runs when he finds a crease, with a nice second gear to pull away.
Minimizes negative-yardage runs and tends to fall forward at the end of his carries; able to spin/twist off of glancing blows for additional yardage. Does a good job of protecting his body from punishment. Doesn’t have a ton of tread on his tires. Ball security has been excellent, with just one career fumble. Love can adjust to off-target throws as a receiver out of the backfield. Shows impressive contact balance and physicality as a blocker, engaging from his feet; overall awareness in blitz pickup also looks good.
Negatives
The flip side of having relatively less tread on his tires is that Love hasn’t proven his ability to carry a huge offensive load like some of the top backs in previous classes; only had three games of 20+ carries this past season.
Not quite as physical as anticipated, given his size; definitely has a more finesse approach to the position than a brute-force one. Goes down a bit quicker and easier than you’d think. Can be corralled at the line of scrimmage before he gets a head of steam going. Would like to see Love get behind his pads a bit more and drive his legs to push the pile.
Summary
A very patient, elusive and flexible back in a big frame, the Heisman Trophy finalist can string together reliable positive-gains between the tackles, make defenders miss one-on-one and protect both the football and his body effectively.
While Love shows a lot of physicality as a blocker, he doesn’t seem like the most powerful runner at times. It would be nice to see him lower his shoulder and fight for yardage more consistently. Still, Love is clearly the top-rated back in this year’s class and will likely be one of the first handful of players chosen on draft day.
Projection: Round 1
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Podcast Addict | TuneIn