Notre Dame’s star running back Jeremiyah Love is poised to make a spectacular impression at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine, with the potential to deliver a performance reminiscent of Saquon Barkley’s memorable showing.
The 20-year-old athlete is expected to clock a 40-yard dash in the low 4.3-second range, showcasing the explosive speed and athleticism that could create a highlight-reel moment in Indianapolis.
During his time with the Fighting Irish, Love accumulated 40 touchdowns while serving as the team’s primary ball carrier and currently sits at the number two spot on Field Level Media’s rankings of top 2026 draft candidates.
Love’s game-breaking velocity represents his strongest asset heading into the draft. While he may not reach the second overall selection that Barkley achieved with the Giants, his combination of skills positions him as a strong candidate for a top-10 pick, particularly given the number of franchises in that range seeking backfield help.
Several teams picking early could target Love, including the Arizona Cardinals (third pick), Tennessee Titans (fourth), New York Giants (fifth), Washington Commanders (seventh), New Orleans Saints (eighth), and Kansas City Chiefs (ninth) – all organizations that could view him as a crucial offensive weapon.
When Barkley tested at the 2018 combine, he registered 233 pounds with a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, 41-inch vertical leap, and 29 repetitions at 225 pounds on the bench press.
Love’s anticipated 40-yard dash and vertical jump measurements could surpass Barkley’s numbers, with his 10-yard split potentially showing exceptional acceleration compared to Barkley’s 1.54-second mark.
Scouts are drawing parallels between Love and former Arkansas speedster Darren McFadden, who posted a 4.33-second 40-yard dash in 2008.
For context, Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten recorded the fastest time among running backs at last year’s combine with a 4.32, eventually being selected 104th overall by Jacksonville.
