Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love declares for NFL draft - ESPN

Jeremiyah Love, the star Notre Dame running back and Heisman Trophy finalist, made it official Tuesday night and declared for the 2026 NFL draft.

Love made the announcement on social media, thanking his family, Fighting Irish coaches and teammates, among others, and saying he «could not have picked a better place for me to grow into the man I am today.»

A post shared by J love (@jeremiyahlove)

Love is widely expected to be the top running back selected in next year's draft.

The 6-foot, 214-pounder is projected to go No. 3 in Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest Big Board for ESPN, and Field Yates has him going 14th to the Kansas City Chiefs in his latest mock draft.

Love scored 21 all-purpose touchdowns in 2025, passing Jerome Bettis (1991) for the most in a season in Notre Dame history. The junior also ended the regular season fourth nationally with 1,372 rushing yards and third with 18 rushing touchdowns, averaging 6.89 yards per carry.

He finished third in Heisman voting behind winner Fernando Mendoza, the quarterback of No. 1 Indiana, and Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia. And he was Notre Dame's first winner of the Doak Walker Award, given to the top running back in college football.

Love's junior season already has ended because Notre Dame (10-2) didn't make the College Football Playoff and opted against playing in a bowl.

As a sophomore, Love rushed for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns on 163 carries, helping Notre Dame reach the CFP championship game, which it lost 34-23 to Ohio State. He had 28 catches for 237 yards and two touchdowns that season.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.