The Doak Walker goes to the nation’s premier running back.
Jeremiyah Love is that guy in 2025.
In 2025, Love ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also catching 27 passes for 280 yards and three more scores. The 21 total touchdowns broke the single-season record set by Jerome Bettis in 1991.
It’s also a historic moment for the Notre Dame program as Love is the first running back to win the Doak Walker Award.
“It's a great honor being the first to do it,” Love stated to ESPN. “I feel like there's a lot of weight that comes with that. I'm setting the standard for running backs here at Notre Dame. I'm just hoping that the next guys that come after me can set a higher standard than I did. But it's a huge honor to be the first running back to win the Doak Walker award at Notre Dame. I hope that the future talent can live up to it or surpass me.”
Marcus Freeman also provided high praise for Love, who is currently in New York City for Saturday’s Heisman Trophy show.
“I think it brings a lot of confidence to everybody in our program,” Freeman said of Love. “When you have that guy on the field and you can give him the ball, there's multiple different ways that he can take the ball to the end zone.
“I'm just so proud of him, the football player he's developed into, but more importantly, the man he's become. And so now I gotta convince him to come back for one more year.”
Love does, in fact, have one more year, but will he return? It’s doubtful as some project him to go in the Top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft and Love was a little emotional thinking about not being able to wear the gold helmet one more time.
“It's sad, man,” Love said to ESPN. “I love Notre Dame so much and I'm just thinking about it potentially my last time having the gold helmet on, it's sad. I'm gonna miss the times that this season I got to put that helmet on and go out there and play with my brothers. Definitely a sad feeling, but I'm gonna remember it.
“I'm gonna remember the good things and just keep it moving. I gotta keep it moving. I gotta go get prepared for the next opportunity. It's sad thinking about that could be my last time running with a gold helmet.”
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