He was just too fast. That’s the simplest way to put it. If you ever stood on the sidelines at a Christian Brothers College High School game in St. Louis, you didn’t really see Jeremiyah Love run so much as you saw a blur in a purple jersey.
People talk about "track speed" in football all the time, but usually, it’s a polite way of saying a kid can’t take a hit. With Love, it was different. He had this weirdly smooth way of gliding past defenders that made them look like they were running through knee-deep mud. It wasn't just that he was fast—he was 10.76-seconds-in-the-100-meter-dash fast. That’s a state championship speed, by the way.
The Christian Brothers College Era
Most folks outside of Missouri didn't really start paying attention until he started racking up Power Five offers like they were candy. But in St. Louis? He was a legend before he ever stepped foot on the Notre Dame campus.
During his time at Christian Brothers College High School (everyone just calls it CBC), Love wasn't just a running back. Honestly, the coaches used him like a Swiss Army knife. Need a home run on a sweep? Give it to Jeremiyah. Need a safety to cover the entire deep half of the field? Put him back there. He even lined up at receiver more than people remember.
His junior year was the real "oh, okay" moment for scouts. He averaged over 10 yards per carry. Think about that for a second. Every time the quarterback handed him the ball, the chains moved. He finished that 2021 season with 996 yards and 14 touchdowns on just 95 carries. It was almost unfair.
That Insane Senior Season
If the junior year was the introduction, the senior year was the takeover. Love didn't just play; he dominated the MSHSAA Class 6 landscape.
- Rushing Yards: 1,291
- Touchdowns: 22 on the ground, 5 through the air
- Big Game Performance: 317 total yards in the state title win over Lee’s Summit North
That state championship game was basically his masterpiece. He had 211 rushing yards and 106 receiving yards. Lee’s Summit North had a great defense, but you could see the exact moment they realized they couldn't catch him. It’s that hopeless look a defender gets when they have the "perfect" angle and he still beats them to the pylon by three yards.
✨ Don't miss: CFP National Championship Location Explained: Where the Big Game Lands Through 2030
He ended up winning the Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year. He was also the MaxPreps Player of the Year for the state. But if you talk to people around the CBC program, they’ll tell you the stats weren't the most impressive part. It was the fact that he stayed humble while every major coach in the country—Saban, Smart, Harbaugh—was blowing up his phone.
Why the "Track Guy" Label Was Wrong
A lot of recruiting analysts kept calling him a "speed back" or a "track guy." It's kinda funny looking back because it ignored how physical he actually played. Love wasn't afraid of the B-gap.
At 6-foot-0 and roughly 190 pounds in high school, he had enough frame to lower his shoulder. He possessed these loose hips that allowed him to change direction without losing momentum. Usually, when a kid cuts, he slows down. Jeremiyah seemed to accelerate out of his breaks.
🔗 Read more: Tomorrow's Top 25 Today: Why the 2026 Rankings Are Already Messy
He wasn't just a sprinter playing football; he was a football player who happened to be the fastest kid in the state. He won the Class 5 100-meter dash as a sophomore with that 10.76 time, and he later pushed his personal best even lower to a 10.54. That’s elite, even by national standards.
The Recruiting Madness
By the time 2022 rolled around, the Jeremiyah Love high school highlights were everywhere on Twitter and Hudl. He had over 30 offers. We're talking Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Texas A&M—the heavy hitters.
Notre Dame eventually won out, and a big part of that was the relationship with running backs coach Deland McCullough. They didn't just see a fast kid; they saw a guy who could become a Heisman finalist. Which, as we now know in 2026, is exactly what happened.
What We Can Learn From His Rise
If you're a young athlete or a coach watching the next generation, Love’s path at CBC offers a few real insights. He didn't specialize too early. He played basketball, ran track, and played multiple positions on the football field. That multi-sport background is likely why his body held up so well under the pressure of the college game.
He also didn't chase the "star" count. While he was a 4-star consensus recruit and a Top 100 player nationally, he stayed focused on winning state titles at CBC. Winning back-to-back championships in Missouri's highest classification isn't a fluke. It requires a level of consistency that a lot of "highlight reel" kids lack.
Next Steps for Fans and Scouts:
If you want to understand why Love is currently projected as a top-tier NFL talent, go back and watch his senior year tape against Lee's Summit North. Pay attention to his vision in the hole, not just his speed in the open field. You can also track his verified track results on MoMileSplit to see how his explosive power developed from his freshman to senior year.