Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2023 57 2023 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY MIKE SINGER Notre Dame has signed many big- time players over the years, but the ad- dition of St. Louis Christian Brothers College running back Jeremiyah Love has a different feel to it. The Fighting Irish often are able to land the elite offensive line prospects. They also regularly sign big-time tight end prospects. In addition, Notre Dame's linebacker tradition is growing strong. There also have been some impressive receiver additions in the past decade. But how often are the Irish able to sign top-100 running back talents? It's not often. Love is just the third for Notre Dame since the 2015 recruiting class, joining Dexter Williams (2015) and Chris Tyree (2020). Tyree hasn't quite hit the mark many hoped he'd achieve in an Irish uniform, and Williams had a productive career for the Irish but never reached 1,000 yards in a single season. In Love, the Irish have an "SEC-type back." He showed his big-play ability so often against strong competition in St. Louis and is far from a smaller back. He has impressive speed to go with a 6-1, 195-pound frame. Love is also excellent at catching the ball out of the backfield and even can play slot receiver. He was coveted by the SEC, too. Love had offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Mis- souri, Tennessee and Arkansas from that conference alone. Georgia and Texas A&M were hopeful to flip Love ahead of the early signing period. But the Irish staff did a fantastic job selling Love on Notre Dame both on and off the field, and even with a crowded running back room, don't be surprised to see Love on the field this fall. ✦ Jeremiyah Love Signals Next Step Taken For Irish Recruiting Love had offers from the elite of college football — most notably Alabama and Georgia — but the Irish staff did a fantastic job selling him on Notre Dame. PHOTO COURTESY ON3.COM JEREMIYAH LOVE RUNNING BACK 6-1 · 195 CHRISTIAN BROTHERS COLLEGE H.S. ST. LOUIS RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 79 4 2 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 93 5 4 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 129 8 4 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 95 5 3 STATISTICS • Totaled 140 rushes for 1,291 yards and 22 touchdowns, plus had 13 receptions for 370 yards and 5 scores, during his senior season. • Carried the ball 95 times for 996 yards and 14 touchdowns, plus caught 11 passes for 103 yards, as a junior in 2021. • Ran 19 times for 211 yards and 3 scores, plus had 3 receptions for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns, in Christian Brothers' victory in the championship game of the 2022 Missouri Class 6 state playoffs. NOTABLE • 2023 Under Armour All-American. • 2022 MaxPreps and Gatorade Missouri High School Football Player of the Year. • 2022 and 2021 Missouri Class 6 state cham- pion. • 2022 Metro Catholic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. • 2022 and 2021 Missouri Football Coaches As- sociation All-State first-team offense. • 2021 Missouri Football Coaches Association All-State Academic first team. • Recorded a 10.76 100-meter dash as a sopho- more, 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 broad jump. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on Oct. 15, 2022. • Picked the Fighting Irish over Alabama, Geor- gia, Michigan, Texas A&M and others. • Recruited by running backs coach Deland Mc- Cullough. • Visited Notre Dame four times, including his official visit on June 17, 2022. 2023 PROJECTION • Love could receive snaps as a true freshman this fall as a running back, slot receiver or in the return game. THEY SAID IT Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman: "He's an extremely talented guy who does multiple dif- ferent things. We wanted to address overall speed. He's a track kid who runs and does a lot of the jumps. He plays multiple positions on both sides of the ball. We're looking at him at the running back position, but he can do multiple things well. He brings unique talent to the offensive side of the ball. "He comes from a great high school program in St. Louis. He's a very unique individual. Great set of parents. He's going to be a huge asset to this program." Vianney High School head coach Chris Star- key: "As an opposing coach, every time Jeremiyah touched the ball we held our breath. He has amaz- ing size, speed and strength, and everything he does is so smooth and natural." National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming: "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 question 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 col- lege player, and he plays like one."