Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482392
42 OCT. 29, 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY MIKE SINGER Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame football program landed a major com- mitment Oct. 15, with St. Louis Chris- tian Brothers class of 2023 running back Jeremiyah Love announcing his decision to pick the Fighting Irish. Love's first offer came during the summer of 2021 from Missouri, but his recruiting process didn't blow up until a couple months after his junior season concluded. Notre Dame offered Love a scholar- ship Feb. 28, and he visited South Bend for the first time a couple weeks later. He's visited Notre Dame a total of four times, including for the Stanford game. He never formally announced a group of top schools, but Love took official vis- its to Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame and Texas A&M this past summer. It was the latter two schools that he ultimately decided between, and the Irish won out. "Notre Dame just has more to offer academic-wise," Love told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "My family loves both Texas A&M and Notre Dame, but I think this is the best fit for us. Notre Dame can offer me more in the long run." Love mentioned the Irish staff and fan base as other major positives for Notre Dame, but it all comes back to the academic prestige. "Those fans are crazy," Love said. "The biggest de- ciding factor, though, was academics. I leaned on that. It wasn't anything big that separated the two schools; Notre Dame can help me out more in the future after football." Love is the nation's No. 5 running back and No. 107 overall player ac- cording to On3. Notre Dame is up to 23 commits in the cycle and now has three running back verbals. Love joins Derby (Kan.) High's Dylan Edwards and Lake Stevens (Wash.) High's Jayden Limar on the running back commit list. Love informed the Irish staff of his decision to commit about a week before his public announcement. "I told Coach Freeman and then talked to Coach [Deland] McCullough," Love noted. "They were all very excited, saying all types of good stuff. We're fired up to get this thing rolling." Love (5-11, 190) should be viewed more as an overall offensive weapon than just a running back in offensive coordinator Tommy Rees' scheme. "I'll be a wide receiver/running back," he said. "I'll be on kick return and punt return — anything to get me the ball. That's how they plan to use me." The early signing period (Dec. 21-23) is a little more than two months away for the 2023 class. Given Love's superb talent, it is likely that other schools will continue to recruit him. The four-star back is focused on Notre Dame but will hear other programs out. "As of now, I'm not doing anything [with other schools], but I wouldn't say it's completely shut down," he ex- plained. "I'll still listen to what other schools have to say, but I'm just chilling." Love will enroll at Notre Dame next summer and will look to complete for playing time as a true freshman. "I'm coming in to play and try to show out," he said. "I want to show everyone what I can bring to the team, and hopefully, we can win a national championship." Love rushed for 533 yards and 10 touchdowns on 68 carries in the first eight games of his senior season, and also had 5 receptions for 143 yards and a score. During his junior campaign, Love carried the ball 95 times and totaled 996 rushing yards and 14 scores. He also caught 11 passes for 103 yards in the 2021 season, help- ing lead Christian Brothers to the Missouri 6A state championship. During his sophomore track season, Love was recorded run- ning a 10.76 100-meter dash, and in the spring prior to his senior year, he had an electronically timed 4.48-second 40-yard dash to go with a 35-inch vertical and a 9-foot, 11-inch standing broad jump. The Missouri Football Coaches As- sociation named Love to its first-team all-state offense. The MFCA also listed him on its all-state academic first team. Love is committed to playing in the 2023 Under Armour All-America Game. He also held offers from Georgia, Oregon, Arkansas, LSU, Miami, Penn State, USC, Tennessee, Auburn and Wisconsin. ✦ COMMITMENT PROFILE JEREMIYAH LOVE Fighting Irish Land Four-Star Running Back From St. Louis Notre Dame beat out Michigan and Texas A&M to land Love, who is the nation's No. 5 running back and No. 107 overall player according to On3. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM FILM ANALYSIS "I could not find many flaws in this young man's game, be it at running back, wide receiver or even cornerback or free safety. He's very fast, explosive, strong, big and elusive with great hands. No doubt he has what it takes to become an All-American at the next level. The only ques - tion is, what position? "He's a complete player, and I was impressed with his size and blazing speed. Love certainly has the potential to become a first-round draft choice. In person and on film, he already looks like a college player, and he plays like one." — Prep Football Report recruiting analyst Tom Lemming "Notre Dame just has more to offer academic-wise. My family loves both Texas A&M and Notre Dame, but I think this is the best fit for us. Notre Dame can offer me more in the long run." LOVE