‘Off the field, on the field, I want to be a champion’ – Irish star Jeremiyah Love details every part of his Notre Dame legacy

Jeremiyah Love’s Notre Dame legacy goes well beyond his impact on Saturdays.

Ryan Roberts National College Football Writer
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Oct 19, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates after a touchdown against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Everyone knows how special of a football player Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love is. You don’t need to be a good evaluator, or have a great eye, to appreciate the high level of athleticism and big play ability he possesses. You just have to pop the Fighting Irish on TV every Saturday, sit back, and enjoy. 

On the field, Love is exceptional. Now considered a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate, and potential first round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft class, Love is coming off of a tremendous sophomore season in 2024. During that breakout campaign for the Fighting Irish, Love managed to total 1,362 yards and 19 touchdowns, while averaging an absurd 7.1 yards per touch. 

Even though his impact on Saturdays is spectacular enough, the things that make Love special are everything he does off of it as well. He is the perfect example of a player, and person, that exemplifies everything that being a Fighting Irish student athlete means. Love is what it means when someone says a “Notre Dame man”, a cliche for some, but a real life example in this instance. 

In an interview he did with A to Z Sports Notre Dame, Love spoke about his privilege to play for the Fighting Irish. That opportunity has not been lost on him, particularly on Notre Dame game days. 

“It’s becoming ingrained in my pregame ritual,” Love explained. “It’s just like I’m a part of the rich history of Notre Dame. There’ve been plenty of great players that have walked down those locker rooms stairs and were able to touch that sign. Or if we’re at away games, being able to touch that sign and go out. 

To me now, I want to play like a champion every day or whatever it may be. Off the field, on the field, I want to be a champion. So it means a lot to me just being able to be a part of the rich Notre Dame history. I also just go out there and ball out. I feel like now if I didn’t partake in that little pregame ritual probably, it would just feel weird. It’d just feel weird because I’ve been doing it for three years now or going on to three years now.”

As Love said, he isn’t just playing like a champion while wearing the blue and gold. He’s also doing so in the classroom, currently majoring in psychology. He’s also doing so while creating Jeremonstar, a comic book universe based on his life to help inspire other athletes, and kids. 

That doesn’t even include his duties as a son, a teammate, and community member. What does it mean to be an all-around great person? 

One easy example: Notre Dame superstar Jeremiyah Love. Enjoy him while you can Irish fans, because there’s a good chance he will only be wearing the golden helmet for one more season, although he will be a part of the Irish family forever.