2026 NFL Draft RB Class: Love vs. Price — Who's the Real No. 1 Back?
Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price headline the 2026 RB class, but their contrasting styles could reshape the first round.
Love's 4.36 40 and Price's 5,000-yard high school career set up a draft-day showdown
The 2026 NFL Draft running back class is shaping up as one of the most intriguing position battles in recent memory, with Notre Dame teammates Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price positioned to go back-to-back in the first round. Love, the consensus top prospect, posted a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the Combine — the second-fastest time among running backs — while Price, the more natural runner, brings a 5,000-yard high school résumé that has scouts buzzing about his potential as a Day 2 steal.
Love's 2024 season at Notre Dame was nothing short of spectacular: 1,372 rushing yards on 199 carries, 21 total touchdowns, and 27 receptions without a single fumble. The 6-foot, 214-pound back forced 134 missed tackles and posted 44 rushes of 15-plus yards, according to PFF, while averaging 4.35 yards after contact per attempt. His 4.37-second first attempt at the Combine only confirmed what game film had already shown: Love is a three-down back with elite burst and pass-catching chops.
Price, meanwhile, measured in at 5'11", 210 pounds and ranked 5th among running backs at the Combine. While he didn't match Love's straight-line speed, his 61st overall PFF Big Board ranking reflects a prospect who might be the more natural runner between the tackles. Scouts describe Price as having better vision and patience than Love, though he lacks the same pure explosiveness and pass-catching value that makes Love a potential top-10 pick.
The debate between these two backs encapsulates the modern NFL's running back dilemma. Love represents the pass-catching, three-down back that teams increasingly value in a pass-first league, while Price embodies the between-the-tackles thumper who can still dominate on early downs. Both are skipping their senior seasons at Notre Dame, with Love projected to go No. 2 overall in some mock drafts and Price expected to be the RB2 selection.
The 2026 class extends beyond Notre Dame, with Penn State's Nicholas Singleton, Arkansas' Mike Washington Jr., and Nebraska's Emmett Johnson adding depth to a group that could see three or four backs go in the first 50 picks. But the Love-Price dynamic will dominate pre-draft discussions, especially with the April 23-25 draft in Green Bay approaching.
Why the Notre Dame RB1 vs. RB2 debate matters
The Love-Price comparison isn't just about two college teammates — it's about how teams value running back archetypes in 2026. Love's 134 forced missed tackles and 4.35 YAC per attempt suggest a back who can create his own yards in space, while Price's 5,000-yard high school career hints at a workhorse mentality that some teams still crave.
Daniel Jeremiah's Top 50 2.0 has Love ranked No. 2 overall and Price at No. 43, reflecting the gap in their draft stock. But the 61st overall PFF ranking for Price suggests he could be the better value pick if teams prioritize natural running ability over elite speed and receiving chops.
What to watch before draft day
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine (Feb. 27-Mar. 2) provided the first official measurements and times, but pro days and private workouts will be crucial for both backs. Love's 4.36 official 40 time sets a high bar, but Price's workout performance could narrow the gap if he shows better-than-expected athleticism.
With the April 23-25 draft in Green Bay just weeks away, teams must decide whether Love's three-down versatility or Price's between-the-tackles dominance better fits their offensive philosophy. The answer could determine not just who goes first among running backs, but how the entire first round unfolds.