The 2026 NFL Draft may still be months away, but the early buzz is building—and one name is already starting to separate from the rest at running back. If there's an Ashton Jeanty-type riser in this class, he might just be coming out of South Bend.
At least according to Pro Football Focus.
In its newly released “2026 NFL Draft: Preseason Running Back Rankings,” PFF placed Notre Dame’s electrifying playmaker Jeremiyah Love at No. 1. After bursting onto the scene last fall, Love is poised to become one of the top offensive weapons in the country this season—and a coveted name on draft boards.
Before the season even kicks off, PFF is all in on the junior star.
“Love enters his first year of draft eligibility with a strong case to be RB1 in the 2026 NFL Draft,” the outlet wrote. “He was a key piece of Notre Dame’s 2024 national championship run, posting a stellar 91.8 rushing grade. A former high school track state champion, Love’s speed shows up on tape — he logged seven runs over 20 mph last season, per PFF’s in-game athleticism tracking.”
But speed isn’t his only weapon.
“He’s more than just a home-run hitter, though,” PFF added. “Love excelled in PFF’s stable metrics, forcing 0.38 missed tackles per attempt and averaging 4.4 yards after contact per carry — both above the 94th percentile for running backs.”
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
At 6-foot, 206 pounds, Love checks all the physical boxes.
And with a verified track background and projected 4.3 speed, he brings the kind of modern, do-it-all profile NFL scouts crave. His sophomore season numbers only back it up: 1,125 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns, and a ridiculous 6.7 yards per carry—plus 28 catches for 237 yards and two more scores through the air.
If he takes another step forward in 2025, Jeremiyah Love won’t just be Notre Dame’s next great back—he might be the first one off the board next April.