Jeremiyah Love blazes at the Combine, showcasing elite speed and all-around athleticism. He solidifies his status as the draft's top running back prospect.
Star running back Jeremiyah Love didn't have much to prove at the NFL Combine, but that didn't stop him from putting on a show down in Indianapolis. The St. Louis native finished his Notre Dame career as one of the most prolific running backs to play in South Bend in program history. In 2025, he brought home the first ever Doak Walker Award back to the Irish and finished as a top four finalist in the Heisman Trophy race. Today, he solidified himself as the No. 1 running back prospect in this year's NFL Draft.
MEASUREMENTS
Height: 6-0
Weight: 212-pounds
Arm Length: 32"
Hand Size: 9"
TESTING NUMBERS
40-Yard: 4.36
10-Yard: 1.48
Combine Performance Recap
Love only performed in the on-the-field drills and the 40-yard dash and it certainly didn't disappoint. He officially ran a 4.36 40-yard dash time which had him No. 2 overall in the class behind Arkansas running back Mike Washington who ran a 4.33 40-yard dash. Love's 40-time is tied with current Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs and 0.04 seconds faster than Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.
The St. Louis native is arguably the smoothest athlete in the entire 2026 NFL Draft class and he showcased that this afternoon in the on-field drills as well. While working on the bags, the 6-0, 212-pound back showcased his footwork and ability to accelerate through open holes, something we saw quite a bit of during his time in South Bend on his way to a 1,372-yard, 18 rushing touchdown season in 2025. Love also showcased his abilities as a pass catcher in and put his soft hands and smooth route-running ability during the pass catching drills.
Like we assumed, Love is the total package when it comes to an NFL-caliber running back. He's a strong runner and an explosive athlete who has great vision and a feel for the game. A lot of those skillsets we saw on display during the field events at the combine today. During one of the bag drills, Love's footwork and ability to explode out of cuts stood out amongst the rest, but arguably wasn't the best between the two backs from South Bend.
Love finished the afternoon with the second best 40-yard dash time amongst the other participants while setting himself apart during the drill period which followed. The announcers throughout the running back drills raved about his performance and we only saw Love compete in a third of the drills overall. His 40-yard dash time blew away some of the other former Notre Dame running backs who have participated at the NFL combine including Audric Estime who ran a 4.71, Kyren Williams who ran a 4.65 and Dexter Williams who ran a 4.57 40-yard dash.
The former Fighting Irish star took this opportunity in Indianapolis and solidified himself as the No. 1 running back in the draft class showcasing his speed, explosiveness, quickness and abilities as a pass catcher. Entering this weekend, Love was considered the best available running back in the draft class; that remains to be true after what he put on display this afternoon in Indianapolis.
After his performance this afternoon, Love spoke with NFL reporter Stacy Rose who deemed him an 'extraordinary player'. The 6-0, 212-pound Notre Dame running back broke down his game and his performance at the combine with Rose.
"I just wanted to showcase everything," Love explained. "I'm not just a great running back but I'm a great receiver as well. I get to run a little bit; when I'm in the backfield I don't get to open up like that too much, so when I get out wide I can showcase my speed a little bit."
He did provide some clarification around Love's intentions to perform at Notre Dame's Pro Day. The St. Louis native will be sitting out but will be in attendance cheering on his guys participating. One thing we do know about this talented running back is his mindset and what he will bring to the table to any NFL organization who elects to draft him.
"If something is easy, it isn't good for you," Love stated when asked about what choosing hard means to him. "I worked for everything I have. When I got to college, I didn't come in looking for handouts or money. I came in, put my head down and worked and gained everything I've gained. Choose hard, I want to work for everything and once I work for it, I feel like I've earned it."
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