School: Notre Dame | Conference: Independent
College Experience: Junior | Age: 20.7 (DOB: 05/31/2005
Height / Weight: 6’0” / 212 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 1st Round (Top 15)
Rushing & Receiving Table Rushing Receiving Scrimmage Season Team Conf Class Pos G Att Yds Y/A TD Y/G Rec Yds Y/R TD Y/G Plays Yds Avg TD Awards 2023* Notre Dame Ind FR RB 13 71 385 5.4 1 29.6 8 77 9.6 1 5.9 79 462 5.8 2 2024* Notre Dame Ind SO RB 16 163 1125 6.9 17 70.3 28 237 8.5 2 14.8 191 1362 7.1 19 2025 Notre Dame Ind JR RB 12 199 1372 6.9 18 114.3 27 280 10.4 3 23.3 226 1652 7.3 21 H-3,AA Career 41 433 2882 6.7 36 70.3 63 594 9.4 6 14.5 496 3476 7.0 42
Jeremiyah Love entered Notre Dame as a high-pedigree four-star recruit and a state-champion two-sport athlete (track) from St. Louis. After flashing elite speed as a rotational piece behind Audric Estimé in 2023, Love took over the backfield in South Bend, quickly becoming a national sensation. His 2024 season was highlighted by a school-record 13-game rushing touchdown streak and a legendary 98-yard TD run against Indiana in the College Football Playoff.
As a junior in 2025, Love ascended to the top of the college landscape. He swept the major awards at his position, winning the Doak Walker (Nation’s top RB) and was named a Heisman finalist and a Unanimous All-American. His combination of sprinter speed (10.54s 100m), vision, and elite contact balance has established him as the consensus RB1 for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Beyond the raw stats, Love’s impact within the Irish offense was transformative due to his ability to serve as a strategic chess piece for HC Marcus Freeman. Coaches have praised his high football IQ, noting that his transition from a track-focused athlete to a refined technical runner happened much faster than scouts anticipated. His presence in the backfield forced opposing defensive coordinators to choose between stacking the box to stop his explosive ability as a no nonsense North-South runner or playing nickel coverage to account for his prowess flexed out in space.
Even in high-pressure situations, such as late-game drives against ranked opponents (see USC, Miami, and Texas A&M tape), Love remained the focal point of the offense, showcasing a level of durability that silenced early-career critics. His leadership within the locker room and his composure during Notre Dame’s deepest postseason runs have solidified his reputation as a ‘culture-setter’, according to a source, making him a highly coveted prospect for NFL franchises looking for a potential franchise-altering addition at the RB spot.
Home-Run Speed: Legitimate track speed that allows him to outrun DBs once he reaches the second level.Three-Down Versatility: Has flashed hands in space — can also line up in the slot and run wide-receiver quality routes; a mismatch against LBs.Elite Contact Balance: Frequently spins, hurdles, or bounces off tacklers while maintaining forward momentum. One of the few ball-carriers in recent years that can go through, around, and over defenders if need be.Vision & Patience: Displays advanced maturity in pressing the hole and allowing his blocks to develop before exploding through the alley.Ball Security: Incredible discipline with only one fumble across 433 career carries.Leaping Tendency: Has a habit of hurdling defenders unnecessarily, which puts him at risk of significant hits in the open field.Pass Pro: While physically capable of blocking, he can be inconsistent in identifying delayed blitzers or stunts. Trait that will improve as more reps are earned.Power Limitations: More of a finesse and speed runner than a pile-pusher; rarely wins through pure brute force in short-yardage situations.
How He Fits on the Commanders
Love would arrive in Washington as a transformative weapon for new OC David Blough. Blough is expected to blend the systems of Ben Johnson and Kevin O’Connell — schemes that prioritize explosive versatility and spacing, and for Love, a dynamic threat with the ball in his hands, well, he fits the vision.
In Blough’s projected offense, Love would serve as Washington’s bonafide RB1 with Bill Croskey-Merritt as a secondary piece. Love’s background as a state champion sprinter allows him to erase pursuit angles on the outside zone runs that are staples of the O’Connell tree. Furthermore, Love’s receiving profile — highlighted by 27 catches this fall — and his ability to align in the slot, complements the Air Raid elements Blough retained from the previous staff. By pairing Love with Jayden Daniels, Washington’s backfield would be as dynamic as any in football, similar to the Ravens, using Love’s skillset inside-outside the tackles to relieve the pressure through the air, and unnecessary shots Daniels has taken in two seasons.
Dual-Threat: Love’s 6.9 yards per carry average and reliable hands provide the high-floor, high-ceiling reliability needed to stabilize a new-look offense.Scheme Independent: Love has proven efficient in both zone (8.1 YPC on outside zone) and gap schemes, allowing Blough to be collaborative and exotic with his play-calling.Pass Protection Readiness: It’s all about effort for RBs in pass pro, and Love has no issue sticking his face in the mud to keep his QB clean if he’s not working in space.