The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have made a habit of coming up just short. From falling to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the National Championship Game last season to getting rejected by the College Football Playoff committee in December, the Fighting Irish faithful have become victims of their own success.
On Dec. 13, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love continued the trend, racing to New York City for the Heisman ceremony ahead of Fernando Mendoza's victory.
Love finished third in the voting, but it's a privilege to merely be in the discussion, and after back-to-back excellent seasons in North Bend, he has all the momentum necessary to punch his ticket to the NFL.
Jeremiyah Love makes NFL Draft decision
Love announced his intentions to declare for the NFL Draft on Tuesday, taking to Instagram to share his decision.
"Those who know me best know I'm very direct, so I am going to get straight to the point and share that I have made the decision to declare for the NFL Draft," he wrote.
Love's platform year went about as well as anyone could have asked. He started slow as Notre Dame sputtered out of the game, but in the weeks since, he has put his stamp on the 2025 season. Logging 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, Love was the best back in the nation.
It wasn't particularly close.
"Heading off to college, there are many uncertainties, but I knew Notre Dame was the perfect home for me," he added. "When I think about all of the people who have impacted me at Notre Dame, it is endless. I am especially grateful for pushing me outside of my comfort zone, while also allowing me to be me. They knew exactly what I needed to do to elevate and made sure to push me to greater heights."
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Notre Dame, of course, opted out of a bowl game after their rejected playoff bid. That excuses Love from the traditional opt-out, but it wouldn't have been much of a concern. Love's character seems to stand out, solidifying his case for Round 1.
Positional value will dampen Love's stock, but his profile is easy to trust, and enough teams need running backs to cement Love as a top-40 pick and a near-lock for the first round. Cementing himself as RB1 was easy with his excellent season, but virtually every other preseason contender fell out of the race.
Love is the best running back in this class and the only first-round option at the position. He projects as a plus starter with strong fundamentals and an incredibly well-rounded athletic profile, and there's little reason why he wouldn't contribute at a fairly high level as a rookie. If he's not an Ashton Jeanty-level prospect, he's close, and he's Notre Dame's top prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.
"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," Love concluded his letter. "I look forward to representing my family and Notre Dame in the NFL."
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