Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love plans to run 40 at combine

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has the speed and athleticism to turn heads at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, potentially creating his own Saquon Barkley moment.

Love, 20, is projected to run the 40-yard dash in the 4.3-second range. His electric playmaking ability makes him a top prospect to watch in Indianapolis this week.

The Fighting Irish featured back finished his college career with 40 total touchdowns and currently ranks No. 2 on the Field Level Media Top 100 list of prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Big-play speed is one of Love’s biggest selling points. While he may not go as high as No. 2 overall, where Barkley was selected by the New York Giants, Love is very much in contention as a top-10 pick. Multiple teams in that range have a need at running back, including the Arizona Cardinals (third overall), Tennessee Titans (fourth), Giants (fifth), Washington Commanders (seventh), New Orleans Saints (eighth), and Kansas City Chiefs (ninth).

For context, Barkley ran a 4.4 40-yard dash, recorded a 41-inch vertical jump, and completed 29 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the 2018 combine, weighing 233 pounds. Love could surpass Barkley in both 40-yard dash time and vertical jump, and his 10-yard split could be exceptionally fast.

Scouts are also drawing comparisons between Love and Darren McFadden, the Arkansas running back who ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the 2008 combine. By comparison, Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten was the fastest back at the 2025 combine with a 4.32-second dash and was drafted 104th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Love’s combination of speed and explosiveness makes him one of the most exciting prospects of the 2026 class.

-Field Level Media/Reuters