Jeremiyah Love headlines Notre Dame’s NFL draft class as first round approaches

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The next chapter for several Notre Dame football stars begins Thursday night as the 2026 NFL Draft gets underway in Pittsburgh.

And when it comes down to producing NFL talent, Notre Dame has set the golden standard. In total, they have had 538 players selected in NFL draft history. That's the most out of any program.

Love is expected to be the first Notre Dame player off the board and one of as many as seven Irish players who could be selected within the first 190 picks. His draft stock has continued to rise in the days leading up to Thursday night, with many projections fluctuating. Some analysts have Love going as high as No. 3 overall to Arizona. If that happens, he will become the first running back selected in the top three since Saquon Barkley was taken No. 2 overall by the New York Giants in 2018.

Other projections have Love coming off the board shortly after the top three picks, with teams such as the Titans, Giants, Commanders and Saints all viewed as possible landing spots. The Jets, who hold one of the early picks, may be less likely to select Love because of their current depth at running back with Breece Hall already on the roster. It’s reported, their more pressing needs could be at edge rusher or wide receiver.

Still, Love remains one of the most talked-about prospects in this year’s class.

“I’m a pretty simple guy,” Love said. “If you draft me, I’m not doing too much other than football. You’re going to get strictly a football player with me, which is what you want. That’s going to be my job. So, I’m going to take it very seriously and give you my all.”

While NFL teams have often been cautious about selecting running backs this high, Love could be the player who shifts that thinking. ABC57 will be on-site in Pittsburgh Thursday with full draft coverage.