Notre Dame Running Back Jeremiyah Love Talks Expanding His Game, Knowledge

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love had plenty to say after the most recent Irish practice

Dec 29, 2023; El Paso, TX, USA; Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (12) runs the ball in for a / Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love addressed the media following the most recent practice. Love had plenty of topics to discuss, including how the Notre Dame staff is expanding his role this spring.

Q: On playing running back and wide receiver

"It started as soon as spring ball started. I'm trying to take this into the season, we're trying ot take this into the season. Right now I'm just playing slot, trying to get a foundation at receiver so that I can move back and forth between receiver and running back, if needed.

Q: How his skillset translates to playing outside

"I would say I'm very good out in space, so putting me in the slot, or putting me at receiver and trying to get me the ball in space fits my play style. I like that they're doing that, but I also want to play running back at the same time. Spring, I'm going to use this to set my foundation at receiver, so that in the season they can put together packages for me so that I can go out into the slot and know what I'm doing and be able to run good routes and make plays.

Q: Where his RB game needs work

"I meet with the running backs and the receivers. Like today, I started off practice with the running backs. I did the first section with them and then I went over to the receivers and went through the rest of practice with them. It's kind of like dividing it up, one day I'm with the receivers, one day I'm with the running backs. I meet with both to watch film. I don't necessarily have to meet with both, because running back I can do that by myself. But receiver, I'm new to it, so I meet with them and watch film with them just to get tips on what to do better and to learn the position. Running back I have down pat, and it's pretty simple, as to receiver I have to learn all the routes."

Q: Does playing in Mike Denbrock's offense give more space

"Most definitely. A lot more room. Last year we were always in 12 or 13, stuff like that. Now we've got a lot more room to do things."

Q: How Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price's games are different

"That's a hard one to think about. I would say what makes us different, I'm faster than JD. That's probably the only difference because we are both great running backs. I would say the only difference is speed. I want to play receiver, I've been pushing that, JD plays running back. The only difference is speed, we are both great running backs."

Q: Can he break tackles

"I would say I'm kind of deceptive. People probably first looking at me probably think I'm more of a finesse type of guy and that I can't break tackles or anything like that. I take pride in it, because I do break a lot of tackles, actually. I take pride in trying to make the first guy miss and not letting one guy take me down and getting yards after contact."

Q: How he can continue to improve

"I want to improve on my knowledge. Going into my freshman year I didn't know too much about reading defenses or what defensive sets were called, or anything like that. I just want to increase my football knowledge, because I think my play will just come. I don't really have to exert large amounts of energy into trying to come up with different things in my craft. I just want to perfect my football knowledge."

Q: On how playing receiver helps his knowledge of the game

"Yeah, most definitely. Playing receiver, you have to read the defense, you have to read the safeties, you have to just read the D. As for running back, all we're really focused on is you have the defensive line, and you have the linebackers. It kind of all comes together, because at running back you're focused on the box, and then at receiver you've got the safeties, and corners, and nickels and all that type of stuff. By doing both I'm kind of increasing my knowledge because I'm learning more about the defense, as to where I was only worried about the box, and sometimes I worry about corners coming to blitz or safeties coming down to blitz. To where as now, I have to learn how to read coverages."

Q: How much he's splitting time

"For the most part I've been with the receivers the past two days, this is my second day. But also I've been at running back too. I text Coach Deland (McCullough), just to ask about if there's anything new going on in the room, new plays or anything like that, and I watch film at running back too. I'm not necessarily missing out on anything because I already have a foundation at running back. It's not that hard, if a new play comes in I just have to contact Coach (McCullough), what's going on with this play. There's usually only one or two new plays that come in every once in awhile. At receiver, I've been with them a lot just trying to learn all the routes."

Q: His plans for the spring

"I think the plan right now is just to get me a foundation at receiver, so when we get closer to the season, so if they want to they can throw in a package for me and I know what I'm doing."

Q: How Chris Tyree impacted his move

"I have not talked to Tyree. ..... Seeing Tyree do it, move from running back and going to slot, it most definitely gave me a boost in confidence, because I see somebody actually did it, and did it well. So it most definitely gave me a confidence boost and let me know I could do it to, and maybe I could do it better."

Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge

———————

Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.

BECOME A MEMBER

Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!

Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter