Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love is the consensus top running back available in April's NFL Draft. He's a unique mix of talent with a unique side hustle.
"Off the field I play games, video games, and watch anime, and that's about it," Love said during last week's NFL Combine in Indianapolis. "So that's my way to decompress and take my mind away from the game for a little bit."
Many players talk about their "superpowers," and Love is certainly in possession of those on the gridiron. But as an insular youngster he marched to his own beat, a bit removed from the hustle and bustle of the "real" game he excels at.
"People thought that I was weird," Love, a St. Louis native told ESPN.com in August 2025. "I didn't really have friends. I didn't like to talk to people. I liked to play by myself. I just preferred it this way."
That sort of focus led him to the creation, along with his dad Jason and a team of developers, of his own anime and manga-inspired (think Japanese-style comic books and graphic novels) game called "Jeremonstar." Jeremiah and Monstar, on the football field. Guess who plays the leading role as the game's superstar!
As he matured and grew into a 6-0, 214-pound grinder out of the backfield, Love transformed that computer-based fantasy into reality. He has all the tools to make an immediate impact in the NFL -- speed, a quick burst, balance, change of direction, agile footwork and good hands catching the ball.
His 1,372 total rush yards (6.9 per carry) were among the top 10 this past season (with a long run of 94 yards) along with 18 TDs. He added 27 receptions for 280 yards (10.4 per catch) and 3 TDs. Overall, in his three seasons and 41 games with the Fighting Irish, Love compiled 433 carries for 2,882 yards (6.7 per) and 36 TD; plus 63 receptions for 594 yards and 6 TDs.
"I mean, I'm just being myself," he said, deflecting a question at the Combine about dealing with pressure to succeed. "And people see that as me being a projected top-10 pick, a projected first-round pick. It really doesn't matter to me. I'm going out there and be myself. No matter where I go, no matter where my name's called, I'm gonna be Jeremiyah Love. But, I mean it's a great honor seeing people recognize me as such. And I plan to go out there and prove myself, prove everybody else right as well."
After Notre Dame's 10-2 season in 2025, a season that ended without an invite to the college football playoffs (and declined an invitation to a postseason bowl game), Love was among the finalists for the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award and others. He won the Doak Walker Award given to the top running back in the nation and was a unanimous All-American selection.
At the Combine, he told reporters that he used his experience playing video games to hone his game on the field.
"I used to think of it as just running away from people, or just like playing tag ... I don't want to get tagged, so I'm not gonna let you touch me," he said. He added: "So fun games translated to football."
Love is likely to be the first running back to jump off the draft board on April 23 in Pittsburgh and he drew high praise from draft analyst Lance Zierlein on NFL.com.
"Three-phase running back capable of stressing defenses with big-play speed and untapped pass-catching value," Zierlein wrote. "Love shared carries but was the heartbeat of Notre Dame's offense over the last two years. He runs with a fierce tempo and processes the front with adequate eyes to find entry points and burst through them."
See top images of the top prospects working out and attending at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles (25) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Kentucky defensive lineman David Gusta (12), Oklahoma defensive lineman Gracen Halton (13) and Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods (29) stands by to participate in the vertical jump during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (21) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese (20) during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (21) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese (20) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Texas Tech defensive lineman David Bailey (31) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles (25) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Cashius Howell (41) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Cashius Howell (41) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (17) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq (23) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (22) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (22) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (34) speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Penn State offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane (30) during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Penn State offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane (30) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
LSU defensive back Mansoor Delane (06) poses for a portrait during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (02) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (11) looks on during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (11) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (11) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (11) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston (08) and Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch (09)looks on during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston (08) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (40) speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon (29) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon (29) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate (37) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese (20) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
