Jeremiyah Love is the Best Player Available in 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft is expected to feature a wide range of elite talent across multiple positions, including standout edge rushers, defensive backs, and quarterbacks. Yet one player has steadily climbed to the top of draft boards thanks to a rare combination of production, athleticism, and game-breaking ability: Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

While the modern NFL often undervalues running backs in the draft, Love’s unique skill set makes him more than just a traditional ball carrier. He is a complete offensive weapon capable of transforming an NFL offense from day one. When evaluating pure talent, versatility, and impact, Love has a strong argument as the best player available in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Historic Production at Notre Dame

The most obvious reason Love stands out is his elite production at the collegiate level. During his final season at Notre Dame, Love rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns on just 199 carries, averaging an impressive 6.9 yards per carry. He also added 27 receptions for 280 yards and three receiving touchdowns, finishing with 1,652 total yards from scrimmage and 21 total touchdowns. 

Those numbers made him one of the most dominant offensive players in college football. Love ranked near the top nationally in several categories, including scoring, total touchdowns, and yards from scrimmage.

His dominance was recognized nationally when he won the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the best running back in college football. Notably, he became the first Notre Dame player ever to win the award, a remarkable accomplishment considering the program’s storied history at the position.

Love also finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, placing him among the very best players in the country regardless of position.

For NFL scouts, this level of production against high-level competition signals that Love has already proven he can be the focal point of a championship-level offense.

Athleticism That Translates to the NFL

Production alone doesn’t make a player the best prospect in a draft class. What separates Love is how his athletic profile matches his on-field performance.

At around 6-foot and 214 pounds, Love possesses ideal size for a modern NFL running back. But what truly turns heads is his explosiveness. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he reportedly ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, showcasing elite speed for a back of his size. 

This blend of size and speed allows Love to create big plays that change games instantly. Throughout his college career, he consistently demonstrated home-run ability, including multiple long touchdown runs and even two rushing touchdowns of more than 90 yards.

Explosiveness is one of the most valued traits in the NFL today. Offensive coordinators prioritize players who can flip field position or score from anywhere on the field. Love does exactly that every time he touches the ball.

A Three Down Running Back

Another reason Love is considered one of the best players in the draft is his versatility. In the modern NFL, the best running backs are not just runners—they are complete offensive weapons.

Love excels in multiple areas:

1. Running Between the Tackles
He has excellent patience and vision, allowing him to set up blocks and exploit running lanes. His balance and contact strength enable him to break tackles and extend plays.

2. Big-Play Speed on the Edge
Love can turn outside runs into explosive gains thanks to his acceleration and long-speed.

3. Receiving Ability
Love caught 63 passes for 594 yards and six touchdowns during his college career, proving he can be a legitimate receiving threat out of the backfield. 

This versatility allows NFL teams to use him in multiple ways—screens, check-downs, wheel routes, and motion packages—making him incredibly difficult for defenses to predict.

Player Efficiency

Another reason scouts love Love—literally—is his remarkable efficiency.

Across his college career, he averaged 6.7 yards per carry on 433 rushing attempts, an elite mark that demonstrates his ability to consistently generate explosive plays. 

What makes that number even more impressive is that Love shared carries in Notre Dame’s backfield for much of his career. Despite splitting touches, he still produced some of the best numbers in the country.

In other words, Love didn’t just benefit from high volume. When he touched the ball, he maximized every opportunity.

Efficiency is a key indicator of NFL success because it shows a player creates production independent of system or workload.

Great Value as a Player

One argument against taking a running back early in the draft is positional value. Teams often prioritize quarterbacks, pass rushers, or offensive tackles.

But there are exceptions.

Every few years, a running back enters the draft with such unique talent that he transcends positional value—players like LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson, or Bijan Robinson.

Jeremiyah Love has the potential to join that category.

His elite athletic traits, proven production, and three-down versatility make him far more than a typical running back prospect.

Concluding Thoughts

The best player in a draft class isn’t always the quarterback or the defensive superstar. Sometimes it’s the player who consistently dominates games and possesses the rare ability to change an offense overnight.

Jeremiyah Love checks every box NFL teams look for in an elite prospect:

• College production
• Speed and athleticism
• Versatility as a running back and wide receiver
• Game breaking ability

For those reasons, it’s entirely reasonable to argue that Jeremiyah Love is not just the best running back in the 2026 NFL Draft—but the best overall player available.

If the right team selects him early, they won’t just be drafting a running back.

They’ll be drafting the centerpiece of their offense for the next decade.

Michael J. Wilson-The Daily Waiver

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