Jeremiyah Love, a Notre Dame running back, has created a comic book featuring his alter ego 'Jeremonstar' as part of a unique NIL deal. This innovative approach highlights the intersection of sports and entertainment in college athletics.
Key points
Jeremiyah Love created a comic book titled 'Jeremonstar'.
The comic book is part of a unique NIL deal.
Love scored a crucial touchdown in the Orange Bowl.
He played through a knee injury during the game.
The touchdown helped solidify his legacy at Notre Dame.
Jeremiyah LoveNotre Dame Fighting IrishOrange BowlPenn State Nittany Lions
In January 2025, with a trip to the College Football Playoff championship on the line, Jeremiyah Love powered into the end zone through sheer will.
The play is forever etched into Notre Dame lore. Facing Penn State in the Orange Bowl, tied 10ā10 early in the fourth quarter, Love lined up for 1st-and-goal while playing through a knee injury. He took the handoff for a touchdown ā something he did 42 times for Notre Dame across three seasons ā but this journey from the two-yard line to the goal line was unlike any other.
Love lifted his legs to avoid one tackle. Drove through another defender. Absorbed contact from two additional Nittany Lions while staying upright, then dove across the goal line as a fifth defender dragged him down.
Considering the stakes, the run could be described in one word:
Heroic.
As Love heads to the NFL as a potential top-five pick, he brings explosiveness, elite speed and an all-around skill set that should make him a three-down back. But beyond the highlights is a humble, understated side of the star ā one he's expressing through an interest that found life in the NIL era: comic books.
Love, in 2025, released a comic titled āJeremonstar," created with his father, Jason, and guidance from industry professionals. The story reimagines Love's on-field playmaking talents through the lens of a superhero,Ā aiming to inspire kidsĀ that they can achieve whatever they put their mind to.
Soon, NFL defenses will get their own glimpses of "Jeremonstar." Loveās game-breaking ability doesnāt just show up on tape ā itās also been brought to life on paper.
What is Jeremiyah Love's comic book 'Jeremonstar' about?
The comic book features Jeremiyah Love's alter ego 'Jeremonstar' and showcases his journey as a college athlete.
How did Jeremiyah Love's comic book lead to a unique NIL deal?
The comic book is part of a creative NIL deal that allows Love to monetize his brand and connect with fans in a new way.
What notable play did Jeremiyah Love make in the Orange Bowl?
In the Orange Bowl against Penn State, Love scored a crucial touchdown while playing through a knee injury, solidifying his place in Notre Dame history.
When did Jeremiyah Love score his memorable touchdown in the Orange Bowl?
Jeremiyah Love scored the memorable touchdown in January 2025 during the Orange Bowl, tying the game early in the fourth quarter.
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Since stepping into the spotlight at Notre Dame as a consensus four-star recruit who shined at Christian Brothers College High School, Love hasnāt shied away from his introverted nature. Off the field, he's always gravitated toward anime and superhero stories. He told ESPN in 2024 that growing up, "people thought that I was weird" because he "didn't really have any friends" and "liked to play by myself."
As his stardom grew, he and his father, Jason, saw an opportunity to share that side of Love through their shared interest in comics.
Growing up in St. Louis, Love found a love for anime ā he told ESPN he discovered it on Netflix at age 6 and "got addicted." Jason shared a similar passion for comics and superheroes, including the X-Men. Initially, neither had a clear vision on how to bring a Love-themed comic to life ā but what better way to share the takeaways from the running back's journey than something that blended the interests of the father-son duo?
The path to making "Jeremonstar" wasn't straightforward, though. The Loves told ESPN in 2024 that Jeremiyah initially rejected early plans for the comic that Jason had put "thousands of dollars" into,Ā including a sketched-out book with designs and a storyline. Instead, they scrapped it and started over.
Progress took time, collaborating with different teams; it took years for the concept to fully take shape.
The right candidate to fully bring "Jeremonstar" to life arrived at the perfect time, with NIL opportunities exploding in college football and Love able to monetize off his name and likeness.
Chris Walker, a former artist for Marvel and DC Comics, brought an extensive background in comic storytelling and brand collaborations. From working on projects for Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killa and Eminem, as well as work in advertising and film, he understood Jason and Jeremiyah Love's goals from a comic and business perspective.
"I always had this passion for combining comics and culture and seeing where it could come around," Walker told The Sporting News. "My career has been really pursuing a passion of storytelling and creativity and even entrepreneurship."
Now leading his own agency, Limited Edition, Walker focuses on blending comics with fandom, media and campaigns. Having recently done work in the sports world, completing projects forĀ MLB Network and the Chicago Bulls, Limited Edition began doing some outreach ā and after being encouraged to connect with NIL collectives, he was pointed to Notre Dame. As it worked out, Fighting Irish representatives said they "happen to have a father and son who are into this."
That introduction was pivotal in "Jeremonstar" becoming real.Ā Walker was also made aware that this also wasn't just any Notre Dame player ā it was the rising top 2026 running back prospect in the country.
"Jason and I hit it off. I understood his vision right away. I knew what he was trying to do. I understood it from a storytelling standpoint. I thought it was really cool way to combine comics and sports," Walker said. "I was like, 'Alright, now I definitely have the team and skill sets and the understanding of how to bring this to life.'"
Walker and Limited Edition began by developing the first 10 pages of the comic alongsideĀ Jeremiyah and Jason, emphasizing the story being told before the scale of it. From there, the project continued to elevate; as Love entered his junior season in 2025, he was working with Limited Edition toward completing the "Jeremonstar" comic.
"I think it's a good NIL story and proof that NIL works" Walker said. "Our team is people from Marvel and DC. So, a lot of comic book veterans that I was able to bring to the table to kind of help. ... [We were] putting creative support around what they had already built and helping to take it across the finish line."
By August 2025, Love was finally able to share on social media: "Jeremonstar is coming."
"When I step on that field, it's not personal," Love said in his preview of his comic book. "But once the lights hit, it's no longer me out there. That's when he takes over."
"We've been building this, perfecting the story. And now, it's almost time."
Take a look around the NIL landscape in college athletics, and you'll see most of the big stars using their platform for endorsements, cars or deals with their favorite companies. Love, a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2025, took a different route.
He used NIL as a chance to create, bringing one of his childhood passions to life with his own vision.
āHeās an anime nerd," Walker told The Sporting News of Love. "He's big into a thing called 'shonen' ... that's where 'Dragon Ball Z' and 'Naruto' and all that stuff come from."
"You kind of see all of those things come together in 'Jeremonstar.'"
Making "Jeremonstar" went beyond simple storytelling though, also aiming to show younger audiences howĀ focus, discipline and individuality can take you far, including the NFL.Ā In 2024, Jason LoveĀ told ESPNĀ that Jeremiyah was never formally diagnosed, but showed signs of ADHD or obsessive-compulsive tendencies as a child.Ā Rather than change him, his parents ā Jason, an Army veteran, and L'Tonya, a sergeant with the St. Louis Police Department ā helped channel that energy into football, emphasizing to Love that he was āthe master of himself.ā
"That's the whole point of the comic, of the message we're trying to put out," Jason Love told ESPN in 2024. "Sometimes kids like Jeremiyah are labeled, but he reverses all those things -- all the doubters and cynics. That's his superpower."
The first edition of "Jeremonstar" sells on its website for $15, or $50 as a T-shirt bundle. But for Love, this also isn't about money. It's about connection and finding people, whether kids or adults, who have the same interests as him and can learn something from his story.
"This is not a cash grab," Jeremiyah told ESPN in 2024. "It's something I want people to like and enjoy. I want to tap into this fan base, and I want to connect with different people who are kind of like me."
In comics, an "origin story" typically follows how a superhero becomes who they are, including their early struggles, how they got their powers and why they wanted to be a hero.Ā "Jeremonstar" essentially follows that arc for Love ā growing from a kid who loved football, anime and superheroes, to becoming a star through hard work and discipline.
A central theme is also the contrast between Love off the field and on it. The "humble, super nice" person Walker described off the gridiron is an entirely different presence than the one that lines up in the backfield.
"I tell people, he's the real deal, very genuine person," Walker said. "I have nothing but great things to say about Jeremiyah."
Through anime-style storytelling and superpowers, "Jeremonstar" highlights Love's sort of dual-identity ā simultaneously the reserved, kind person and the explosive football weapon who puts fear into a defense.
It also carries some messages.Ā Loveās rise isnāt portrayed as an overnight success, but as the result of dedication, training and persistence.
"It's trying to teach people to have confidence in yourself," Love recently said of his comic book to NFL Network. "There's a lesson of never giving up. No matter how big the deficit is, no matter how big you're down, the game's never over."
"I hope that kids can away from my comic that football can take you to places that you never thought were possible."
"Jeremonstar" wasn't a one-off project. Now that Love's alter ego has been brought to life, there are plans to expand the comic universe. Love's passion for comics, anime and his superhero persona are part of his identity, one he will be officially taking into the NFL on Thursday night.
"It has the ability to travel with him into the NFL and reflect things that are happening there," Walker told SN. "That's kind of the overall goal was to create this storytelling universe, and work with athletes inside of that universe where people have superpowers."
Licensing rules mean *"*Jeremonstar"Ā canāt actually wear official NCAA or NFL uniforms on the page. But color schemes can do enough work there, portrayed in the first edition wearing green and gold. As Love enters the NFL, his next color scheme is about to take shape ā Walker said experimenting with NFL uniform colors has recently been part of the fun while awaiting the running back's draft destination.
"What are the colorways going to look like for 'Jeremonstar' with a new team, and how does that translate?" Walker said of his team's current focus. "How does that come to life for fans, and how do you make it fun and collectible?"
The question is: which colors will "Jeremonstar" be wearing next?
If he lands as high as No. 3 to Arizona, Love would be joining Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride, rocking Cardinal red as one of the NFL's best group of offensive weapons. In Tennessee, Love could rock a vibrant teal while aiming to rejuvenate an offense led by Cam Ward. In D.C., "Jeremonstar" and Jayden Daniels wearing maroon in the backfield would cause plenty of issues for defenders; or in New York blue, heād be an instant star as a long-awaited Saquon Barkley replacement.
Wherever Love lands, that next chapter begins. Any NFL team will be thrilled with both halves of him; the traits he brings to the field ā explosiveness, relentlessness, fighting for every extra yard ā fits the superhero mold. But off the field, he remains a quiet, humble leader who still carries the same love for anime and comics that he did as a kid, bringing it to one of the more unique platforms a football star has ever utilized.
"I think fans are looking more for a different type of storytelling. ... comics, video games, this other way of telling these stories of players, or even of teams and their fan bases or mascots. I think there's this very rich world of storytelling that can happen in comics and animation," Walker said. "Sports is really wanting it, to live with the players and the story lines more."
