Jeremiyah Love’s Mom Reveals his Personal Struggles Before Arkansas Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Sep 27, 2025 11:31 AM ET

Notre Dame’s lead back enters Saturday’s trip to Arkansas as the program’s most productive returning rusher: through three games this season, Love has 52 carries for 284 yards and three touchdowns (5.5 YPC), along with 79 receiving yards on eight catches.

Notre Dame (1-2) will kick off in Fayetteville at noon ET on ABC; ESPN BET lists the Irish (-195) as 4.5-point favorites with a 63.5-point over/under.

Prior to kickoff, Love’s mother, L’Tonya Love, spoke on ESPN’s "College GameDay" about his childhood and the personal struggles he had to deal with growing up.

"He would tell me, ‘Ma, I don't feel emotion.’ It's like he didn't feel happiness, he didn't feel grief, he didn't feel any of that," L’Tonya Love said. "I was like, ‘Ya, you do,’ but he was like, ‘No, I don't.’ Jeremiyah was perceived to be standoffish, a loner, not a team player."

Born May 31, 2005, in University City, Missouri, Love grew up under the guidance of his father Jason Love and his mother L’Tonya Love. His mother served as a St. Louis PD sergeant and his father coached him in youth football.

At Christian Brothers College High, Love rushed for 1,291 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior, earning Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year honors and helping his team win back-to-back state titles in 2021 and 2022.

Rated a consensus four-star recruit and the nation’s No. 5 back in 2023, per 247Sports, Love chose Notre Dame over Michigan, Alabama, Texas A&M and Oregon.

He wasted no time making an impact, scoring his first collegiate touchdown on a 36-yard run in the 2023 opener and finishing his freshman year with 385 yards rushing and 77 receiving yards, each topped by a score.

As a sophomore last season, Love ran for 1,125 yards on 163 carries (6.9 YPC) and 17 touchdowns, along with 28 catches for 237 yards and two scores.

This season, he remains the Irish's top offensive weapon and a centerpiece to Notre Dame's title aspirations.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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