In just his second collegiate game, true freshman running back Jeremiyah Love exploded onto the scene. In No. 13 Notre Dame’s 56-3 victory over Tennessee State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Love scored his first touchdown in blue and gold. It was a memorable one.
First of Many for Love
Love wasted little time making his presence felt against the Tigers from the FCS. The fourth Notre Dame running back to carry the ball on the Irish’s opening drive, Love hit pay dirt with an electric 36-yard run. He darted through a hole off the right side, made a defensive back miss with a nifty move, and dashed into the end zone. It marked the first touchdown of the game and the first for Love in a Notre Dame uniform.
After Love’s eye-catching score, the Irish never looked back and are now 2-0 to open the season after beating Navy 42-3 last week in Ireland. Love rushed for 40 yards on four carries in that game. While the lopsided score over the Tigers reflects an all-Irish afternoon, head coach Marcus Freeman said that the Irish were honored to host Tennessee State—led by head coach and Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George—because of the game’s historical significance.
“To be the first [Notre Dame] team to play, not only an FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) opponent and HBCU (Historical Black College and University), it’s really important,” Freeman told the Associated Press. “It’s humbling, especially being an African-American head coach. This is what you want for college football. As I told Coach George after the game, “I’m honored to be part of this game.”
Talent from the Beginning
A consensus four-star prospect and a top-ranked running back in his class, Love is a versatile player. He has speed in spades, and he possesses pass-catching ability out of the backfield. In his senior year at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, MO, Love tipped his hand. He rushed for 1,291 yards on 140 carries in 2022, averaging 9.2 yards per carry. He rushed for 22 touchdowns and also caught 13 passes for 370 yards and five touchdowns.
Not an every-down ball carrier, Love is a big-play weapon capable of generating big-play highlights for the Irish every week. In a loaded and unselfish backfield led by Audric Estime, Love will have limited opportunities. There are only so many touches to go around. In this role, Love will be able to play to his strengths when his number is called. He is adept at making defenders miss in space, as he showed on Saturday. He makes quick open-field cuts. And Love accelerates quickly, allowing him to spring clear through even the slightest holes.
A Sign of Things to Come
While not the focal point of a deep backfield, Love is demonstrating his playmaking ability. With the speed he showcased on Saturday, Love is certain to solidify his place in a deep running back room. As a result, he will receive more opportunities to make plays this year and beyond. With Estime likely headed for the NFL after this season, Love could see his role in the offense expanded as soon as next season.
Against Tennessee State, Love and Estime provided the Irish a strong one-two punch. Love carried the ball five times for 46 yards and a touchdown. Estime rushed for a team-high 116 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown. It was his fourth career 100-yard game and his first this season. His longest run went for 50 yards and set up a somersaulting touchdown by quarterback Sam Hartman. Gi’Bran Payne carried six times for 27 yards and was the third-leading rusher on the day. All told, Notre Dame racked up 557 total yards on offense. Eight offensive players scored touchdowns against TSU.
“We’re a deep team,” Freeman told on3.com. “The ability to get the ball to all these guys, these playmakers, is a challenge. But our offensive coordinator Gerad Parker and Sam [Hartman] have done a good job of sharing the wealth. The running backs are doing a great job. We’ve just got to continue to improve.”
Looking Ahead
The Irish have clearly bested inferior teams in their first two games of the season. The offense has been balanced and the swarming defense has not allowed a touchdown through two games. It is the first time since 1975 that Notre Dame has held the first two opponents without a touchdown.
The runaway wins have inspired confidence, but the opposition grows fiercer in the coming weeks. Notre Dame will visit North Carolina State on Saturday. The Irish will then host Central Michigan on Sept. 16, before a highly anticipated showdown in South Bend with No. 3 Ohio State on Sept. 23. As the level of competition increases, it will be important for Notre Dame to continue its balanced offensive attack. If Jeremiyah Love’s performance against Tennessee State is any indication, there are many more highlight-reel plays to come from the true freshman solidifying his role in the offense. Stay tuned.
