Matt Cashore, USA TODAY Sports

Can Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love Be This Year's Ashton Jeanty?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Luke Easterling | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 5:56 PM ET

For a few years, it seemed like the NFL had moved on from valuing running backs as being worthy of premium draft picks.

But in recent years, a handful of truly elite prospects have proven that if teams want to land special talents at the position, they deserve to be picked early.

The likes of Saquon Barkley (No. 2 overall), Christian McCaffrey (No. 8 overall), Bijan Robinson (No. 8 overall), and Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 12 overall) have all become superstars, and the 2025 NFL Draft delivered another candidate in Ashton Jeanty, who landed with the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 6 overall pick.

That reversing of the trend could have NFL teams and fans looking ahead to next year's draft in hopes of finding yet another potential top-10 pick in the offensive backfield, and Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love is likely to be at the top of the list.

But is Love in the same stratosphere as Jeanty heading into the 2025 college football season?

On the latest episode of "Best Podcast Available," I sat down with NFL writer Doug Farrar to discuss the top prospects in next year's draft class, and asked about the comparison between Jeanty and Love.

"I don't compare backs to LaDanian Tomlinson," Farrar said. "And I don't use the word 'generational,' because it's stupid. But I've done both with Jeanty, without hesitation. That's the level we're talking about here. There are elements of Emmitt Smith. He's just rare."

Despite facing more nine-man boxes than any other team in college football outside of Army, Jeanty delivered one of the most historic seasons we've ever seen from a running back at that level, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting behind another rare talent in Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter.

"When you're the epicenter of your offense, and you're still unstoppable, that puts you in a different category," Farrar said of Jeanty's ridiculous production despite the consistent attention from opposing defenses.

Love had an impressive 2024 season, to be sure, helping the Fighting Irish make it all the way to the national title game, and providing some highlight-reel moments along the way. He's widely regarded as the top running back prospect in the 2026 class, and a likely first-round pick barring injury, but he's still got a ways to go before he can be put in the same sentence as Jeanty.

"I think Jeremiyah Love will be a great back in the NFL, but he's not Ashton Jeanty," Farrar said. "I'm sure there will be those comparisons, but they're ill-advised, at best. And that's not a slam on Love at all."

During Super Bowl week earlier this year, Farrar had a chance to speak with Robinson, who has quickly established himself as one of the league's most dynamic backs with the Atlanta Falcons, and the former Texas star admitted that Jeanty reminds him of himself.

"You don't often get NFL players saying that about draft prospects," Farrar said. "That's just Jeanty setting himself apart."

To check out the entire conversation, including a deep dive on the rest of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class, watch the full episode of BPA: