Chiefs scouting report: Notre Dame Fighting Irish RB Jeremiyah Love

The Kansas City Chiefs signed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker to a three-year contract in free agency, decreasing their likelihood of selecting a running back early in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, Chiefs fans should still understand the running back landscape in this class, including the blue-chip prospect leading the way.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love is a more complete prospect than Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, who went sixth overall to the Raiders last year. In a draft lacking top 100-caliber prospects at the position, Love could become a hotter commodity than fans expect.

Love is a patient runner who uses nimble footwork to approach and press close to the line before exploding through the gap. His effortless agility and change of direction make it easy for him to survey multiple gaps and access difficult cutback lanes. Love sees the field well, finding narrow gaps between the tackles to slip through.

Love is a twitchy and sudden athlete capable of making defenders miss in a phone booth. He is such a smooth and natural mover. Love’s acceleration and speed rank among the best in the class and make bouncing runs outside simple. He erases pursuit angles and turns long gains into game-changing touchdowns.

Love’s elusiveness translates to the open field. He deploys jump cuts, side steps and spins to make would-be tacklers eat turf. His 6'0", 212 lb. frame is fairly average by league standards, but he displays reliable contact balance to break through arm tackles and finish runs driving forward.

Love is an elite runner, but it’s his work in the passing game that turns him into a potentially franchise-defining player. He stacks defenders, including defensive backs, on wheel and seam routes and is comfortable catching the ball downfield. Love runs real routes and creates mismatches with his versatility.

Love is a high-IQ player who quickly identifies threats pre-snap in pass protection. He delivers physical blocks protecting his quarterback and contributes as an impactful lead blocker on designed runs.

Love is not a goal line back. He struggled to move the pile in several short-yardage situations in 2025. He is a twitchy athlete but is still developing the ability to string multiple jukes together to make defenders miss in quick succession. Love is a willing pass protector but needs to improve his technique to sustain blocks.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love