Could Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price become the first backfield duo drafted as the initial two running backs? History beckons for these explosive Irish playmakers.
Notre Dame had a historic offense in 2025, and now the two drivers of that success have a chance to make NFL history. Irish running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are both set to be selected early in the NFL Draft, and if things go according to plan, Notre Dame could make history.
We have seen a team put multiple running backs in the first round before, with the last time coming in 2007 when Arkansas standouts Darren McFadden and Felix Jones were both taken in round one. We don't know if Love and Price will both go in the first round, as Price is considered a late first, early second round player. But the former Irish stars are the odds on favorites to be the first two running backs selected.
That is something we have never seen in the NFL. Notre Dame has had 538 players selected in the history of the NFL, which is more than any other program in the history of the draft. What Notre Dame has never done, and what no team in college football history has ever done, is produce the first two running backs to be taken in the same draft.
Love is projected as a sure-fire Top 10 player, and despite the lack of value placed on the running back position in the draft, some project he could go as high as No. 3 overall. If Love does go No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5 it would make him the highest drafted running back since Saquan Barkley went No. 2 overall back in 2018.
The St. Louis native had a brilliant career at Notre Dame, capping it off with a junior season that ended with him winning the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back and earning unanimous All-America honors. Love also finished third in Heisman Trophy voting after rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Love also caught 27 passes for 280 yards. Love also rushed for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024.
Price had an outstanding career at Notre Dame as well, and despite being overshadowed by Love he's emerged as a top draft prospect. In fact, some prominent mock drafters have Price sneaking into the bottom of the first round. Over the last two seasons, Price rushed for 1,420 yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Price earned first-team All-America honors by Sporting News as a return man after he took two kicks back for scores this season.
Love and Price were the drivers of an Irish offense that set modern school records in scoring and yards per play. Notre Dame finished No. 2 in scoring offense this season at 42.0 points per game, the school's highest mark since 1912. The 7.32 yards per play average was also No. 2 nationally and was the modern school record, besting the mark previously set in 2015.
Love averaged 7.3 yards per play from scrimmage this season and Price was at 6.4 yards per play from scrimmage. Their dynamic performance was the fuel for the offense this season and their elite talent is why they are set to make NFL history.
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