INDIANAPOLIS — The “Running Backs Don’t Matter” crowd just got silenced. Fresh off a blistering performance at Lucas Oil Stadium, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love isn’t just climbing draft boards; he’s sprinting up them. In a stunning post-Combine reveal Monday, USA Today’s Nate Davis projected the Fighting Irish standout to go as high as No. 4 overall to the Tennessee Titans, shattering expectations for the 2026 class.
The Combine Crusher
Love didn’t just participate in Indianapolis; he put on a clinic. Coming off a monster 2025 campaign where he racked up 1,372 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns, the St. Louis native proved his tape matches the metrics. Scouts left Indy buzzing about his explosive testing numbers and fluid route-running, solidifying his status as a rare three-down weapon.
While most analysts predicted a late first-round landing spot, Davis’s projection flips the script. The logic? In a draft class light on elite quarterback certainty, blue-chip playmakers like Love become gold dust. His 6.9 yards per carry average in 2025 wasn’t just efficient; it was dominant.
“In addition to eye-popping testing numbers… front office executives and coaches are also looking at media interactions and, among other considerations, clean medical reports – perhaps the most critical, if underrated, aspect of any combine.”
— Nate Davis, USA Today Sports
The “Irish” Draft Wave
Love isn’t the only golden helmet making noise. While he headlines the offense, the defensive backfield is creating its own gravity. Benjamin Morrison remains a tantalizing prospect despite sliding slightly due to medical checks, with many teams eyeing him as a Day 2 steal. Meanwhile, safety Xavier Watts continues to rise, with scouts loving his ball-hawk instincts (13 interceptions in two years).
Pittsburgh or Bust: What’s Next?
The road to Pittsburgh is short but brutal. With the Draft kicking off April 23 at the Point State Park area, the next six weeks are about medicals and private workouts. For Love, the question is no longer if he goes in the first round, but how high. If the Titans pull the trigger at #4, Love becomes the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley.
Flashback: Remember when Love dropped 228 yards on USC last October? That wasn’t just a great game; it was his job interview. And right now, it looks like he got the job.