Marcus Freeman teases potentially playing both Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price at same time

While Notre Dame goes through its quarterback competition to start training camp, the running back room is looking to be a clear strength. Jeremiyah Love is generating early Heisman Trophy buzz, but Jadarian Price also proved to be effective as a complementary back last season.

As a result, Marcus Freeman said the staff will look to find ways to use both of them. While both have been working on their respective games this offseason, he said Love and Price will have roles in the offense in 2025.

In fact, Freeman teased an interesting ripple this coming year. With a smirk, he suggested both Love and Price could be on the field at once so opposing defenses have to make a choice.

“They’ve all been working individually on how to improve as an individual – whether that’s in pass protection, whether that’s ball security, whether that’s as a receiver,” Freeman said on ESPN’s Vibe Check. “We’ve got to find different ways to have each of them improve. It’s going to be a running back by committee. We have to utilize every person in that room, and that might mean having more than one running back on the field at one time.

“We’ll figure out what we’re going to do, tactically, as we prepare for our upcoming opponents. But it’s a great room that is looking to elevate as we’re getting ready for fall camp.”

Love proved to be the clear RB1 last season in an offense that leaned heavily into the running game with Riley Leonard at quarterback. He led the Fighting Irish with 1,125 rushing yards and tied with Leonard for the team lead as he totaled 17 touchdowns on the ground. Price, meanwhile, ranked third on the team with 746 yards and seven touchdowns.

The duo can form a strong two-headed monster in the Notre Dame backfield behind either CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey. But Love, in particular, could emerge as a difference-maker. He’s generating plenty of early NFL Draft buzz and is one of On3’s Andy Staples’ Heisman Trophy Dark Horses this year.

FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt went a step further. He called Love one of the best running backs in the nation – and someone past Fighting Irish teams were missing.

“Love is something that we haven’t really seen at Notre Dame,” Klatt said. “Like, Brian Kelly had good, physical, tough, fundamentally sound teams. But they would go against some of the SEC teams in the playoff or in the national championship game and they didn’t have the dynamic player that allows you to go out there and really compete.

“Well, guess what? Jeremiyah Love gives you that ability. He is a dynamic, athletic threat. And, for the Irish, this guy is outstanding.”