Notre Dame Running Back Jeremiyah Love Ranked Top Prospect for 2026 NFL Draft
Jeremiyah Love, a running back for the University of Notre Dame, has been ranked as the top running back prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft by draft analyst Dane Brugler. Brugler also identified Love as one of the draft's top athletes overall. The ranking appears in Brugler's preseason evaluations published by The Athletic.
Photographer for the Dome in 1920. / Wikimedia (Public domain)A running back for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team has been ranked as the top running back prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft. The ranking comes from a draft analyst at The Athletic.
The analyst published preseason evaluations. The evaluation highlights the running back's speed, vision, and versatility.
He also contributed on special teams, including returns.
The running back enrolled at Notre Dame in 2022 after playing high school football at East Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
As a freshman, he appeared in 12 games, rushing for 115 yards. His role expanded in subsequent seasons, leading to his breakout performance in 2023.
Context and Next Steps The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in April 2026, with the first round typically held in a host city selected by the league.
The 2026 NFL Draft follows the 2025 draft and involves all 32 NFL teams selecting college players.
As the top-ranked running back, the running back could be selected in the first or second round, depending on team needs.
NFL teams will evaluate him further through pro days, interviews, and the NFL Scouting Combine in February 2026. His ranking positions him as a key prospect for teams seeking a dynamic backfield option. The Athletic reported these details in the analyst's analysis, which serves as an early projection for the draft class.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
3 events- 2024 (preseason)
Dane Brugler ranks Jeremiyah Love as top running back and one of the best athletes for 2026 NFL Draft.
1 source@TheAthletic - 2023 season
Love rushes for 1,039 yards and 18 touchdowns as a sophomore at Notre Dame.
1 source@TheAthletic - 2022
Love enrolls at Notre Dame after high school career in Oklahoma.
1 source@TheAthletic
Potential Impact
- 01
Increased media coverage of Love's senior season performances is likely.
- 02
NFL teams may prioritize Love in draft preparations due to his top ranking.
- 03
Notre Dame's recruiting could benefit from Love's high prospect status.
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