Jeremiyah Love is coming off a stellar college career. The Notre Dame star is easily the best running back prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. What team will he end up with? Establish the Run’s Evan Silva released a mock draft recently. He has Love heading to the New York Giants fifth overall:
“5. Giants – Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
Love’s home-run-hitting game mimics Jahmyr Gibbs, yet Love makes house calls with 13 more pounds on his frame. Giants owner John Mara is still reeling from Saquon Barkley’s departure, while new HC John Harbaugh has no tangible connection to Cam Skattebo, who dislocated his right ankle, fractured his right fibula, and ruptured his right deltoid ligament last Week 8. Reports suggest Giants GM Joe Schoen may have no say in this pick and could be ousted after the draft.”
With the fifth pick, the Giants will likely draft a defensive player like Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles or his former Buckeye teammate, safety Caleb Downs. But don’t rule out Love (if he’s still available) landing in New York.
NFL Mock Draft Has the Giants Taking Notre Dame Running Back Jeremiyah Love
Looking Back at His Career
Jeremiyah Love attended Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis. During his senior year, he rushed for 1,291 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 370 yards and five touchdowns.
Love received college offers from schools like Michigan, Oregon, and Texas A&M. Yet, he committed to Notre Dame. During his first collegiate season, he recorded 385 rushing yards, 77 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.
Love became a starter in 2024, replacing Audric Estime, who went to the NFL. He wound up rushing for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns while catching 28 passes for 237 yards and two scores. Love helped Notre Dame reach the National Championship Game, where they lost to Ohio State.
In 2025, Love and the Fighting Irish ended the regular season with a 10-2 record. Love rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also hauled in 27 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns. In addition, he was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza ultimately won the award.
Should the Giants Draft Him?
The Giants certainly weren’t an elite team last season. They finished with a 4-13 record and obviously missed the playoffs. However, the team could make a huge leap in 2026.
This offseason, New York hired Super Bowl-winning head coach John Harbaugh, and franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart is primed for a breakout year. Plus, talented youngsters Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo are returning from injuries.
Without a doubt, Jeremiyah Love could help turn things the Giants around. He’s an explosive athlete who can contribute on the ground and in the passing game. Love has been compared to NFL star running backs like the Detroit Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs and the San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey.
Back in the 2000s, taking a running back early in the first round fell out of favor with draft experts. Yet, things changed during the late 2010s and early 2020s. The Las Vegas Raiders selected Ashton Jeanty sixth overall. And in 2023, the Atlanta Falcons took Bijan Robinson eighth overall. Plus, Barkley went second overall to the Giants in 2018, Gibbs went 12th overall in 2023 (Lions) and McCaffrey went 8th overall in 2017 (Carolina Panthers).
Love could team with Skattebo to form an exciting “thunder and lightning” duo in the backfield. And he has the potential to develop into a superstar down the road. So yes, the Giants should draft him if they get the opportunity.
