Top Sooners Stand Out, Notre Dame Duo Dominates Draft Preview!

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: Jeremiyah Love of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish poses for a portrait during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images) | Getty Images There are different episodes of the pre-NFL Draft hype and discussion every year. The two that eventually become the biggest ones (although not always the most telling) are the pre-combine predictions and the post-combine/free agent predictions.

For some Notre Dame players this season there is quite a bit of difference. Although wide receiver Malachi Fields had a phenomenal Senior Bowl which launched him upwards in the mock drafts toward the first round, his 40 time at the combine did some damage. While he can still help himself at the Notre Dame Pro Day, Fields still likely won’t be one of the players selected in the first round.

But there are two Irish players that are still very much in contention. The first is the most obvious; running back Jeremiyah Love. He very well may be the best player in the draft and is definitely the best running back.

He had been slotted in a number of places in the top 10 before the combine and free agent signings, but after several teams made some moves to solidify their running back room, Love is now projected to be picked by the Tennessee Titans with the 4th pick overall by Daniel Jeremiah . Daniel Jeremiah also has Notre Dame running back, Jadarian Price, being selected in the first round as well. Price is projected to be picked by the Seattle Seahawks who just saw the departure of Kenneth Walker to the Kansas City Chiefs (which slightly affects Jeremiyah Love, but it seemed less and less likely he would have fell to the Chiefs).