Jeremiyah Love just made what everyone expected official. The potential first-round draft pick has officially declared for the NFL draft. After dominating for a few seasons at Notre Dame, the running back is headed to the next level this spring. He finished as a Heisman finalist, landing third behind Fernando Mendoza and Diego Pavia, in what will be his final collegiate season.
Jeremiyah Love Officially Headed to the NFL
Other than seniors with no more eligibility, it’s technically impossible to determine whether or not a college football player is headed to the NFL next. However, with a lot of the star players, there’s a high probability they’ll declare as soon as they’re eligible. That’s what Notre Dame running back and Doak Walker Award winner Jeremiyah Love just did.
He announced the decision on his Instagram page, writing, “Making the decision to attend Notre Dame was easy because of the people. From the amazing football support staff to my fellow students — I could not have picked a better place for me to grow into the man I am today. It is with a wealth of gratitude I will take the many experiences Notre Dame has given me and apply those lessons learned as I move onto the next level. I look forward to representing my family and Notre Dame in the NFL.”
Love is exiting on a high note. He recorded 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, while also recording 27 receptions for 280 yards and three receiving scores in the passing game. It’s now a matter of where he might end up in the draft, but he’s all but assured to be a first-round pick. Heisman finalists don’t typically fall out of the first round, especially not when they have the track record Love does.
Where Could Jeremiyah Love Go?
There is a lot of debate about what a running back is worth. Are they good enough to change an offense, or are they only as good as the offensive line in front of them? Typically, it’s the latter.
Take a look at the Las Vegas Raiders, for example. Ashton Jeanty was a generational running back, much better than Jeremiyah Love. He’s struggled immensely in the NFL because the Raiders can’t block for him.
There are other examples for the opposite, too. The Detroit Lions drafting Jahmyr Gibbs over Bijan Robinson and as early as they did in the first round was a huge shock, but he’s become one of the best players in the NFL. Robinson, for the Atlanta Falcons, was also a huge hit in terms of draft choices, even though both were drafted at spots some were wary of.
There will always be first-round running backs, but some of them are cautionary tales. Love may be, but only time and the situation into which he’s drafted will tell. Several teams could be highly interested in him, including:
- Tennessee Titans
- New Orleans Saints
- Washington Commanders
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Minnesota Vikings
- Dallas Cowboys
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Houston Texans
Others might enter the mix as wild-cards, especially if some players (like Breece Hall) are traded this offseason. That would put the New York Jets in the market. The mock drafts have different landing spots for Love.
Mock drafts
PFF’s latest mock draft sees the Vikings snap up Love to pair with JJ McCarthy and Justin Jefferson. So does CBS Sports’ Mike Renner’s latest. SI’s mock sends him to the Saints to provide an Alvin Kamara replacement and give Tyler Shough a legitimate running back to play with. ESPN’s most recent prediction sends him to the Chiefs. This would give them someone to lean on in the absence of Patrick Mahomes.
The run game has been a weakness for all these teams. Love would be a fantastic addition.
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