Newsstand: NFL Draft analyst explains why Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love will be a first-round pick
Speculation about next year’s NFL Draft class is already ramping up, and analysts are raving about Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
On the latest episode of The McShay Show with Todd McShay, cohost Steve Muench shared his early evaluation of the Fighting Irish junior. Analysts already project him as a first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“That Notre Dame team, there are a lot of reasons why they made that run,” Muench said. “Riley Leonard put it together, great leader, great head coach, great defense. Jeremiyah Love is as big a part of it as anyone.
“So tough and then add the explosiveness. He’s going to fight for yards after contact. He’s going to break tackles, and then he’s going to break loose when he gets a seam. …
“I think he’s a kid you have to keep an eye on in the first round.”
In McShay’s first 2026 NFL Mock Draft, he projected Love to go No. 17 overall to the Chicago Bears. If Love hears his name called in the first round, he would be the first Irish running back to get drafted in the first 32 picks since Jerome Bettis in 1993.
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Since then, Notre Dame has had eight other running backs drafted: Audric Estimé, Kyren Williams, Dexter Williams, CJ Prosise, Theo Riddick, Julius Jones, Autry Denson and Ray Zellars.
According to On3’s College Rankings, Love is the No. 11 overall player and No. 1 running back in college football.
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“When you think of Notre Dame, it starts with the football program, of course, but then it’s the life after football. The Notre Dame degree holds a lot of weight. It doesn’t get any better than Notre Dame.”
— Forney (Texas) High four-star running back Javian Osborne on his decision to commit to the Irish on Saturday.
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