4.36 Speed and Gold Hardware: Joel Klatt Names Jeremiyah Love the Unquestioned RB1
4.36 Speed and Gold Hardware: Joel Klatt Names Jeremiyah Love the Unquestioned RB1
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine has produced its fair share of fireworks, but few players left a more lasting impression than Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. Entering the weekend, Love was already considered one of the most explosive athletes in college football, but his official 4.36-second 40-yard dash time sent shockwaves through the scouting community. FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt has officially weighed in, labeling Love the best running back in the 2026 draft class and a "home run threat" on every single touch.
Klatt’s endorsement comes at a pivotal time as NFL teams look for the next versatile, dual-threat back in the mold of a Jahmyr Gibbs. The analyst highlighted Love's combine performance as the final piece of the puzzle, noting that while the tape already showed elite twitchiness, the raw numbers in Indianapolis confirmed Love's status as a top-10 offensive talent. Klatt specifically noted that Love's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield makes him an indispensable asset for modern NFL offenses that prioritize spacing and mismatch creation.
A Record-Breaking Finale at Notre Dame
Love’s draft stock is the byproduct of a dominant 2025 junior season with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Leading the Irish to a 10-2 regular-season record, Love became the first player in program history to win the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s premier running back. He was a cornerstone of an offense that averaged 42 points per game, finishing the season with 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground. Perhaps more impressive was his efficiency, averaging a robust 6.9 yards per carry.
In his final collegiate game, a 49-20 blowout win over rival Stanford on November 29, 2025, Love showcased the versatility that has scouts salivating. He tallied 228 rushing yards—the most ever by a Notre Dame back against USC earlier in the year—and ended the season as a Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing third in the voting. His 21 total touchdowns in 2025 set a new single-season program record, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest to ever wear the blue and gold.
The Next Elite NFL Back?
While the running back position has seen its draft value fluctuate in recent years, Jeremiyah Love is the type of prospect that forces a re-evaluation of the rules. Reportedly, several teams in the top 15, including the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys, have expressed significant interest in the St. Louis native. Klatt’s bold prediction suggests that Love will not only be the first back off the board but could be a Day 1 starter who changes the dynamic of an entire offensive scheme.
With his elite sprinting background—having been a Missouri state champion in the 100-meter dash—and his proven production in a pro-style system at Notre Dame, Love is the complete package. As Klatt puts it, you didn't need the combine to know Love was fast, but seeing him clock that 4.36 was the "exclamation point" on an incredible journey from University City to the brink of NFL stardom.
