Jeremiyah Love is a 6’0″, 214-pound running back out of St. Louis, Missouri, who is widely regarded as a generational running back prospect. In the 2023 recruiting cycle, Love was a four-star recruit from Christian Brothers College, ranked 77th nationally, the fifth-best running back, and the second-best player in Missouri. He committed to Notre Dame in late 2022 and decided to pursue his goal of reaching the NFL as a member of the Irish. He entered Notre Dame with an exceptional track background, including a Missouri state championship in the 100-meter dash with a 10.76-second performance, a mark that has remained a defining part of his athletic profile. Love emerged as the top running back in America through his 2025 Doak Walker Award honors, his achievement of unanimous All-American status, and was even considered as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Love broke countless records during his time with Notre Dame, including the most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown, breaking the record for the most touchdowns for the school, and rushing for the most yards in a single game. He racked up an impressive 2874 rushing yards and 36 rushing touchdowns, with nearly 600 receiving yards and one fumble on 433 carries throughout his career.
Love’s skill set is unique, as he can process the game in and out of phase and pair it with his freakish athleticism. Despite having a leaner frame for the position, he still has an ideal build, which allows him to use his speed, burst, and agility to beat defenders and break tackles. His max speed and ability to accelerate in the open field make him a threat to score from anywhere on the field, especially when he fits through the gap and reaches the second level. He can easily decelerate and reaccelerate, making it easy to find cutback lanes and allowing him to leave defenders in the dust. Mentally, Love sees the game in a way that few backs can; his elite instincts and patience allow his blocks to set up, and he times his run to a schedule. He makes decisions on the fly and routinely gets them right. He stays composed, hesitates not, and uses his understanding of leverage to succeed in all phases of the game, making his play speed a defining part of his mental game. Love stands out with a high level of effort on the field, as he fights through contact and gains extra yardage.
Love’s identity as a player shows up clearly in how he wins as a runner. His vision is elite because he shows exceptional ability to maintain his position at the line of scrimmage until defenders make their move, which he uses to create open space. The combination of his gap timing and cutback ability enables him to run with complete control and efficiency all over the field. He has tremendous receiving ability, can line up in the slot and backfield, and can create mismatches for safeties and linebackers due to his top-end speed, route running, and yards after the catch ability. His ability to force missed tackles is a standout trait in his game, as he uses his quickness to change direction and run at full speed to escape tackles in open space. He has great contact balance for his lean build, making his ability to run through arm tackles routine, and constantly keeps his legs moving. He holds onto the ball tightly and securely, as seen through his one fumble on well over 400 attempts in his career. Hurdling unnecessarily is also seen in his game, and something he must work on to avoid injury and stay healthy. Love needs to refine his pass protection, as his technique is inconsistent, he dips his shoulder often, and he lunges into contact instead of using his hands to throw off defenders. The combination of his vision, explosiveness, and ability to play multiple positions makes him one of the most complete running back prospects in recent memory.
Scheme Fit and Team Fit
Love fits any offensive system, but his best performance will come in zone-based or balanced schemes, which enable him to establish contact at the line of scrimmage, assess blocks, and develop plays through his sight and timing. Today’s NFL offense requires backs that can rush, catch, and block, and Love can meet all three of those demands. The Tennessee Titans have a very decorated track record at the running back position over their history, and love a guy that can be the focal point of their offense in the backfield. The Washington Commanders suit him because their offense offers multiple options, allowing him to showcase his skills as a runner and receiver. The Dallas Cowboys create perfect conditions for him to function as a three-down back because their run-game strength and passing-game opportunities enable him to make the greatest impact.
NFL Player Comp: Jamaal Charles
Love compares to Jamaal Charles as a running back who shows dynamic, explosive running skills through superior vision, acceleration, and elusiveness. Both players can leave defenders in the dust on cutbacks, can run routes out of the backfield, and can beat you by slowing things down, but also by winning with sheer athleticism. Love’s game mirrors Charles’ in his ability to be a home-run threat with elite vision and speed.
Projection: Elite Player
Love has everything you want in a running back, from elite vision to elusiveness to athleticism to versatility; he really has it all. He is consistently talked about as one of the greatest running back prospects of all time, alongside Bijan Robinson out of Texas, Reggie Bush out of USC, Saquon Barkley out of Penn State, and so many more. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that he will not be the real deal and will absolutely be an NFL superstar.
Grade and Round Projection: 6.51, Early 1st Round
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