Notre Dame football RB can take a 'lot more hits' after offseason growth

Now that the Notre Dame football season seems to be back on track, there are a few players that have stood out as offensive leaders. Riley Leonard turning his season around is big. But he is far from the only one.

Jeremiyah Love has had himself quite the season so far. And the running back thinks he knows exactly why. 

“I can take a lot more hits,” the Notre Dame football star told Irish Sports Daily earlier this week. “The weight has most definitely helped. I can run through people and people are scared to tackle me up high, so they have to go lower and I can hurdle. It helps me last a little bit longer.” 

Last season, Love had 71 carries for 385 yards and 1 touchdown. This season, in just five games, the Irish back has 57 carries for 373 yards and 5 touchdowns already. He’s got a real chance to rush for 1,000 yards despite sharing carries.

Notre Dame football RB Jeremiyah Love is living his best life

In the offseason, Love added around 20 pounds of good weight, which has benefitted his game. The 6-foot, 206-pounder has drawn the eye of NFL scouts as his 265 yards after contact leads the Irish. 

In addition to posting some impressive stats this season, Love is also looking like a leader off the field. 

“We really want to focus on our preparation before the games,” Love said in the wake of the loss to Northern Illinois. “Making sure we’re focused, blocking out the noise, and just locking in a lot more than we did last year. Not taking any opponent (for granted), not playing to their level and coming out practicing every day trying to be the best we can.”

The Notre Dame football team is looking like they might make it back to the playoffs after all. And Jeremiyah Love looks like he’s going to be one of the guys who leads them there.