The Notre Dame Fighting Irish announced that Jeremiyah Love turned in one of the weekend’s most dominant performances at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Love ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash that reinforced his status as the clear top running back in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Some prospects arrive at the Combine hoping to get noticed. Others show up to prove they’re in a different class entirely.
Love measured 6’0″ and 212 pounds before making quick work of his workout. He skipped the jumps and shuttles, focusing only on the 40-yard dash. Only Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr. ran faster with a 4.33-second time.
Any questions about Love’s long speed disappeared on Saturday.
Athletic Comparisons
The closest comparison for Love’s measurables is former Dallas Cowboys star DeMarco Murray. Murray weighed slightly more and posted a 4.37-second 40-yard dash before Dallas selected him in the third round.
Murray rushed for 4,526 yards and 28 touchdowns with the Cowboys. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2014 when he led the league in rushing yards.
His career declined after leaving Dallas for Philadelphia and Tennessee, but three 1,000-yard seasons provided solid value. If Love’s ceiling matches Murray’s peak, whoever drafts him in Round 1 will be satisfied.
Darren McFadden offers another comparison point. McFadden’s 6’1″, 211-pound frame ran even faster at 4.33 seconds. That speed defined his game, creating highlights and big plays throughout his career.
McFadden’s two 1,000-yard seasons without a Pro Bowl selection represents a more average projection for Love’s skill set.
Trey Benson shows how similar measurables don’t guarantee success. Benson ran 4.39 seconds at 216 pounds and dominated at Florida State as college football’s top tackle-breaker. He’s struggled with consistency in the NFL due to vision and footwork issues.
Big plays remain part of Benson’s profile, but limited down-to-down reliability restricts his opportunities for explosive runs.
Film Analysis
Love’s 2025 film showcased that big-play ability every Saturday. He broke off a 90+ yard touchdown run for the second straight year. Love forced at least 50 missed tackles in back-to-back seasons while recording 38 runs of 15+ yards in that span.
His burst and long speed make him a constant home run threat who forces defenses to respect every snap.
Love reads blocks well and hits holes with efficient footwork. Those fundamentals separate him from purely athletic backs, but it’s his speed that makes him dangerous from anywhere on the field.
Top-15 draft capital appears all but guaranteed for Love heading into 2026. That early selection will give him the best opportunity among his comparable players to maximize his NFL career.
Athletic measurables don’t tell the complete story for any prospect. Production, medical evaluations, and character assessments will ultimately determine Love’s draft position and professional success.
But Saturday’s performance confirmed what Notre Dame fans already knew – Love possesses the rare combination of size and speed that translates to every level of football.
