In replacing Jeremiyah Love (and Jadarian Price) most people around the Notre Dame football program expect Aneyas Williams to be the "next man up." However, Love believes that fans and analysts are overlooking Kedren Young. The rusher, who could go in the Top 5 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, believes Young is going under the radar but could have a big role in the Fighting Irish offense this fall.
Love sat down last week to talk to On3's JD Pickell and look back at his days with the Fighting Irish. Among the topics the two men discussed were who Love believed could be a breakout running back now that he's gone.
“I feel like a lot of people don’t know too much about Kedren,” Love said. “But he’s that type of guy who’s kind of like Audric [Estimé], but he’s more agile than Audric, I would say. He can run you over. He can juke you. Kedren is very fluid. His movements are very fluid for a big back.”
Jeremiyah Love believes Kedren Young can play a big role for Notre Dame football in 2026
Young is listed at 234 pounds, making him the heaviest running back on the Notre Dame roster. He’s got 20 pounds on the next heaviest back, freshman Jonaz Walton. At the very least, if Young doesn't win the starting job in the Irish backfield, he could certainly prove to be used as a short-yardage battering ram. Love believes Young will find a big role in the offense in one way or another in 2026.
In order to do that, the running back will need to return from a torn ACL 100%. The good news there is that all signs to Young being ready for the start of fall camp.
The Fighting Irish have a number of weapons it could trot out at running back this fall. As Jeremiyah Love recently pointed out, if Kedren Young "can get back healthy, he’s going to play a great role for Notre Dame."