{"id":17233,"date":"2026-03-26T08:30:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T08:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=17233"},"modified":"2026-03-26T08:30:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T08:30:42","slug":"2026-nfl-draft-preview-running-backs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2026-nfl-draft-preview-running-backs","title":{"rendered":"2026 NFL Draft Preview: The Great Notre Dame Backfield Is Carrying the Load for This Year\u2019s Running Backs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We started our 2026 NFL<\/a> Draft previews this week with a look at quarterbacks<\/a> where Fernando Mendoza is really carrying that position. Similar things can be said about the 2026 running backs as Notre Dame\u2019s Jeremiyah Love<\/a> is far and away considered the best prospect at his position in this draft class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, Love could be the highest-drafted running back since the Giants used the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft<\/a> on Saquon Barkley. Oddly enough, the second running back off the board could be Love\u2019s teammate at Notre Dame, Jadarian Price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s not shaping up to be a deep class for backs where you can just wait until the fourth or fifth round and find someone capable of playing well. We know that does happen often in the NFL. Just last year, Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Commanders) and Kyle Monangai (Bears) were drafted in the seventh round and they finished fourth and fifth in rushing yards for the 2025 rookie class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pretty good early return on investment, and someone like Cam Skattebo was also a fourth-round pick by the Giants (105th overall). But that class was considered deeper than this 2026 group is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that said, there should be an intense debate over where Love should go after we\u2019ve seen the pendulum swing back towards stressing the importance of the running back:<\/p>\n\n\n\n