While it was hard to pinpoint who exactly on the 2024 Notre Dame football team was the real “star,” especially on offense, it doesn’t appear that conundrum is going to present itself in 2025. That’s because there is one player who looks like he’ll be the banner carrier for the Fighting Irish this fall.
It’s hardly a surprise that Jeremiyah Love would be seen as the big star of this offense heading into the fall. After all the running back showed some flashes in the playoffs of a player who could put a team on its back and carry it to victories. He had some back-breaking carries against some of the best teams in the country.
Jeremiyah Love projected as first round pick and possible Heisman contender
As “way-too-early” mock drafts have started to come out, Love has already been the guy who has been someone analysts believe will be a bonafide first round pick. The latest such mock comes from ESPN’s Jordan Reid who believes that Love will be the No. 16 pick overall.
That is very similar to where the other mock drafts have Love, and the disagreement seems to be more about which team will be there to grab him than anything else. This time around, it’s the Chicago Bears that will be in that slot.
At the moment, the running back is the only Notre Dame player that is projected to go in the first round. And it’s worth pointing out that middle of the round seems a bit too low.
Love is someone who has gotten plenty of mention as a possible Heisman Trophy contender. Should he indeed show the kind of numbers that will put him there, it’s worth pointing out that Ashton Jeanty, who was also a finalist and a not a winner, was selected inside the Top 10.
Should Jeremiyah Love have the kind of season that he’s capable of for the Notre Dame football team, these mock drafts are only going to show him moving up in the order even more as we get closer to next spring. As long as he’s allowed to get his carries, he could be in store for a very special season.