2026 RB Spotlight: Jeremiyah Love

Kevin looks at a top running back prospect in the 2026 QB class!

Jeremiyah Love turned in one of the most dynamic seasons in college football last year. The Notre Dame sophomore cemented himself as the clear alpha in the Irish backfield, racking up 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on just 163 carries, good for an elite 6.9 yards per run. To put that in context, the only two backs with over 150 carries who topped that average were Ashton Jeanty and Isaac Brown. Love wasn’t just efficient, he was explosive, dependable, and deadly in space.

At 6'0", 212 pounds, Love blends vision and burst with physicality at the point of contact. He didn’t just pad stats against weaker opponents, he showed up in the big moments. Whether it was the season-opening win over Texas A&M, where his 21-yard score sealed the deal, or the College Football Playoff matchup with Penn State, where he broke tackles en route to a key touchdown, Love consistently delivered. He had nine scores of 20+ yards, including home run shots of 98, 76, 68, and 64 yards. You can’t teach that type of juice.

He also made a clear jump as a receiver, logging 28 catches for 237 yards and two touchdowns, and was used in the slot during spring practice. With quarterback Riley Leonard and his 900+ rushing yards now gone, there’s an opportunity for even more volume in 2025. Love is widely considered RB1 in the upcoming class, and it’s hard to argue against that based on his film, production, and athletic profile.

Notre Dame rode Love’s back all the way to a national title appearance, going 14-2 with seven wins over ranked opponents and one of the nation’s most balanced offenses. He’s not just a product of a good scheme, he’s the engine.

Now talk about the coaching and scheme around him and what it could mean for his 2025 outlook.

Coaching and Scheme

Marcus Freeman is entering his fourth full season as the head coach at Notre Dame, and it's safe to say he's exceeded expectations. Since taking over the program in 2022 following Brian Kelly’s departure, Freeman has gone 33-10 and has built this team into a perennial contender. He led the Irish to a 14-2 record last season and a national title appearance, including 12 wins over ranked opponents along the way. The culture shift under Freeman has been real and it's producing wins.

Freeman’s foundation, what he calls “The Gold Standard,” is built on three core principles: challenge everything, unit strength, and competitive spirit. It’s a philosophy that prioritizes development, toughness, and accountability, all of which bleed into how this team plays on Saturdays. His ability to connect with players and keep the locker room bought in is a big reason why this program has momentum heading into 2025. Freeman isn’t just coaching football, he’s building something that echoes the Lou Holtz era. There’s a sense of belief around South Bend that hasn't been felt in a long time.

Offensively, Mike Denbrock is back for year two as the Irish OC. After navigating the longest season in program history and helping this team reach the national title game, Denbrock proved his value. Last year, Notre Dame averaged 36.1 points per game, and much of that came from Riley Leonard’s dual-threat ability. But now with Leonard gone, there’s a shift on the horizon.

Don’t expect Denbrock to overhaul the scheme, he’s too smart for that. But we should see the offense take a more run-centric approach early on while the QB position gets sorted out. Last year, this team ranked 101st in passing yards per game and just 55th in total offense. Denbrock knows that needs to change, and he’s shown a willingness to evolve. His offense uses motion, creative alignments, and formation variation to find mismatches. He’s moving away from a condensed, inside-the-box approach and leaning more into spreading the field, which only benefits playmakers like Love.

With questions at quarterback, there's a real path to Jeremiyah Love being the centerpiece of the offense. Don’t be surprised if he sees 15-20 touches per game, especially early in the year. Denbrock's creativity and Freeman's stability have created the perfect ecosystem for Love to thrive.

2025 Offensive Outlook

Notre Dame’s offense is heading into a transitional year, not in the sense of rebuilding, but more like recalibrating. The quarterback battle between sophomore CJ Carr and redshirt sophomore Kenny Minchey will extend into fall, with Carr looking like the favorite to emerge as the starter. Carr missed most of his redshirt year due to an elbow injury but returned at full strength for spring. His pedigree is elite, a top-40 recruit and the grandson of Michigan legend Lloyd Carr, and all signs point to him being the guy when the Irish take the field this fall.

Still, with no Riley Leonard and no quarterback on the roster capable of replicating his 900+ rushing yards and 17 rushing scores, the run game should be even more central to the offense in 2025. And while that could be music to Jeremiyah Love’s ears, the depth in the backfield might cap his usage just enough to keep him out of the Heisman conversation. New RB coach Ja’Juan Seider, who comes over from Penn State, has a history of rotating his backs, and he inherits a room that’s not only talented, but deep.

Love isn’t just the alpha, he’s the heartbeat of this group. But Jadarian Price, who racked up 746 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, remains a legit threat to siphon touches. Then there’s Aneyas Williams, who exploded in the College Football Playoff against Penn State with 83 total yards on just seven touches. If his spring performance carries over, he could carve out a third-down or receiving-back role that further chips away at Love’s total volume.

Even still, Love is going to eat. Last year, he shared work and still produced 1,125 yards and 17 scores on the ground. The Irish don’t need to overwork him to get elite production, they just need to keep him healthy and let him hit his explosives. And given the talent behind him, they can afford to be smart.

At receiver, the Irish haven’t had a 600-yard wideout since 2021, but that drought may finally be ending. Jaden Greathouse is a breakout candidate. Malachi Fields and Will Pauling bring proven production through the portal. And young talents like Jordan Faison and KK Smith add serious juice. This group logged over 2,200 receiving yards combined in 2024 and finally has the depth and upside to balance the offense. There is a real question mark int he tight end room but after dealing with injuries his entire career the staff thinks Eli Raridon will have a breakout season in 2025. However, this might be this groups biggest question mark outside of who will start at quarterback.

Up front, the offensive line is returning four starters and a combined 53 career starts. The key lies in keeping Billy Schrauth and Ashton Craig healthy. In the 15 games Schrauth has started, the Irish have averaged over 212 rushing yards per game — versus just 174 in games he’s missed. Craig’s six starts have seen the offense average 239.5 on the ground. Those two staying upright is critical, especially with Charles Jagusah expected to miss time with a broken arm. Sullivan Absher should step into the starting lineup, and while there may be some growing pains, this group still has the tools to be one of the better units in the country.

All that said, this offense is being built to run, and it’s being built around Jeremiyah Love. Next up, let’s dive into Love’s scouting report and how his junior season could shape his 2026 NFL Draft stock.

Projected 2025 Depth Chart (Offense)

• QB1: CJ Carr

• RB1: Jeremiyah Love

• RB2: Jadarian Price

• WR1: Jaden Greathouse

• WR2: Malachi Fields

• WR3: Jordan Faison

• WR4: Will Pauling

• TE1: Eli Raridon

Scouting Report

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