Jeremiyah Love, Drayk Bowen Named Top Playmakers For The 2025 College Football Season

A year ago Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and linebacker Drayk Bowen were going into their first seasons as starters and were tasked with replacing a NFL Draft pick. Heading into the 2025 season, both are now veterans, leaders for the Notre Dame football team and both are expected to be impact players for the Irish.

ESPN published a story listing its Top 25 best non-quarterback playmakers for the 2025 season and both Love and Bowen made the list.

Love was a breakout star for the Irish last season, rushing for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding two more scores in the pass game. He was a big play waiting to happen and Love posted a number of highlight reel runs. Bigger things are expected this season.

"Love provided the first touchdown -- and major highlight -- of the 12-team CFP era when he raced 98 yards to the end zone against Indiana despite having dealt with flu-like symptoms entering the game. His big-play ability might be unmatched from the running back spot entering the season, as he averaged 6.5 yards per carry or more in nine contests and had at least one rush of 29 yards or longer in eight games. Despite battling several injuries, Love reached the end zone in every regular-season contest and two of the four CFP games in which he appeared. His durability is a bit of a question, but he added weight during the offseason and likely will have an expanded role after more than tripling his receptions total from 2023." - Adam Rittenberg

It was interesting to hear what Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said to Adam Rittenberg, who put this list together. From the sound of it, we can expect Love to be more impactful in the pass game this fall.

"We spent part of the spring kind of cross-training Jeremiyah more as a wide receiver too, so if someone is in at running back and we need him in a third-down situation, or we need him in the red zone or in a critical situation to get out in space and make somebody look silly, we have that ability as well."

Love being on the list wasn't a surprise, but Bowen's presence was. Bowen developed into a standout player for the Irish defense last season and he's a talented young linebacker, so he belongs on a list like this. The surprise is that a national outlet is recognizing his potential to be a difference maker on a national scale, something I don't read often.

"The national runner-up Irish lost four players to the NFL draft, as well as coordinator and Broyles Award winner Al Golden, and will have a newish look in 2025. Bowen had a key role alongside Jack Kiser at linebacker, starting every game and showcasing his playmaking prowess. He led the team in forced fumbles and ranked third in tackles. He's also an effective special teams performer, forcing a fumble on a kickoff return against Louisville. Bowen and returning players such as safety Adon Shuler will have bigger leadership roles for a defense now led by coordinator Chris Ash." - Rittenberg

Bowen was third on the Irish defense last season with with 78 tackles, trailing only Kiser - a fourth round NFL Draft pick - and Watts, an All-American the last two seasons. He'll play for Chris Ash, who is the new defensive coordinator this season. Here is what Ash had to say about Bowen.

"This spring, I've asked each player to give me their opinion on who our top leaders are, and Drayk Bowen is a guy that comes up consistently. He's smart, he's tough, he's intelligent, he's learned a lot from Jack Kiser about leadership. It's his time to take that step and become the leader of the defense." - Chris Ash

The only surprise on this list was not seeing cornerback Leonard Moore, who is arguably the best returning cornerback in the country. There was only one cornerback on this list, and that was Duke corner Chandler Rivers.