Jeremiyah Love Praised as 2026 NFL Draft's 'Best Player' by AFC Scout After Combine

In the aftermath of the NFL scouting combine, the hype around Jeremiyah Love continues to grow leading up to the 2026 draft.

Per The Athletic's Dane Brugler, a scout for an AFC team called the Notre Dame running back the "best player" in this year's class.

Love entered the combine regarded as the top running back in the 2026 draft. He left Indianapolis in that same spot, with scouts and analysts seeming to feel even better about him entering the NFL.

The 20-year-old had the second-fastest 40 time of any running back at 4.36 seconds.

Per NFL Next Gen Stats, Love tied Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles for the highest production score at the combine and tested better than arguably the four best running backs drafted in the previous decade.

All of this has led to speculation that Love could end up being drafted even higher than was initially expected. The Ringer's Todd McShay said on the Up & Adams show on Monday that Love could go as high as No. 3, currently owned by the Arizona Cardinals, and is unlikely to slide out of the top five.

The Tennessee Titans at No. 4 have been connected to Love coming out of the combine.

B/R's NFL scouting department projected Love to the New Orleans Saints with the eighth overall pick in its most recent mock draft posted after the Super Bowl.

There hasn't been a running back drafted in the top five since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 to the New York Giants in 2018. Ashton Jeanty was selected sixth overall by the Las Vegas Raiders last year.

Love finished third in 2025 Heisman Trophy voting. He had 1,372 rushing yards, 280 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns in 12 games for the Fighting Irish.