Notre Dame Running Back Jeremiyah Love Named To The Walter Camp Player Of The Year Watch List originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Today, star Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love was named to the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch List. The St. Louis native has already been named as a Walter Camp Preseason All-American and is also a member of the Maxwell Award Watch List. This award is rarely awarded to running backs; there have only been five running backs who have won the award since 2000 with the most recent being Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III back in 2021.
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Four previous Notre Dame players have won the award since it’s origin in 1967 with the most recent winner being star linebacker Manti Te’o back in 2012 after his magical seven interception season. Tight end Ken MacAfee, wide receiver Tim Brown and wide receiver Raghib Ismail have also brought the award back to South Bend in it’s history.
Last season, Love had a stellar breakout year for Notre Dame after rushing for 1,125 yards, averaged 6.9 YPC and tallied 17 rushing touchdowns; he added an additional 237 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. This season, Love is back in the South Bend backfield for his third and likely final season with the Irish. He’ll be a staple in Mike Denbrock’s offense in year two and is being coined as the best running back in the country by numerous outlets. Notre Dame’s rushing attack was one of the best in the country last year. Despite losingquarterback Riley Leonard, the rushing offense is expected to be just as dynamic with players like Love and Jadarian Price returning to the backfield.
The preseason accolades for the 6-0 214 pound back continue to mount up. He’s been named to Walter Camp Preseason All-American List, Athlon Sports First Team All-American team, PFF’s First Team All-American team and has been named the No. 1 returning running back in the country by several major outlets across college football. He’s being considered a leading dark horse to win the Heisman trophy as well.
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If Love takes home this award, he would join an elite list of running backs who have won since 2000 including Larry Johnson at Penn State in 2002, USC’s Reggie Bush in 2005, Oklahoma’s Darren McFadden in 2007 and Derrick Henry in 2015 from Alabama. Love is poised to have a historic season for Notre Dame in 2025, and if last season was any inclination of his potential success this season, Love could end up being one of the most decorated running backs from South Bend in quite some time.
Several opponents on Notre Dame’s schedule had players listed on the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List including:
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Quarterback Carson Beck, Miami
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Quarterback Blake Horvath, Navy
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Linebacker Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
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Quarterback Maddux Madsen, Boise State
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
