Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price become latest RB duo selected in first-round of NFL Draft

5 min read
Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price become latest RB duo selected in first-round of NFL Draft - Image 1
Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price become latest RB duo selected in first-round of NFL Draft - Image 2
Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price become latest RB duo selected in first-round of NFL Draft - Image 3
Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price become latest RB duo selected in first-round of NFL Draft - Image 4

Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price become latest RB duo selected in first-round of NFL Draft

The list of first-round running back duos isn't all that exhaustive. But it is noteworthy.

Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price become latest RB duo selected in first-round of NFL Draft

The list of first-round running back duos isn't all that exhaustive. But it is noteworthy.

Article image
Article image
Article image

Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price become latest RB duo selected in first-round of NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The running back position doesn't quite have the same luster it did in the past, with NFL front offices seemingly undervaluing the spot and its impact on winning.

Still, few positions have proven as historically significant as tailback in NFL history. The draft bears out that reputation, with franchises often investing heavily into the position come draft day.

Sometimes, that investment takes on a curious disposition. Every now and then, the same school produces multiple first-round-caliber tailbacks. The list of first-round running back duos isn't all that exhaustive, especially in the past half-century. But it remains a strong indicator of the position's value -- both to the programs that crafted these enchanting talents and the organizations that have backed them at the next level.

With that, here's what you need to know about the history of first-round running back tandems from the same school.

2026 NFL DRAFT HQ:Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Best players still available

Since 1976, just four RB tandems from the same school have been selected inside the first round in the same draft. Here's a look at that fantastic four, as well as how they performed over the course of their careers.

Love and Price anchored Notre Dame's offense during their spells in South Bend. Love powered the Irish's attack, capturing the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running back after amassing more than 1,600 yards of total offense and 21 total scores as a junior.

Predictably, Price lagged behind his high-profile backfield mate. He remained productive, however, averaging six yards a carry while recording 11 rushing touchdowns in just 113 carries.

Those performances were enough to see Love and Price be selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Love heard his name first, becoming the NFL's highest-paid running back after the Cardinals made him their No. 3 pick. 29 picks later, Price joined him in the NFC West, taking hold of the Seahawks' running back room as the final pick of the first round.MORE:What to know about Jeremiyah Love's 'Jeremonstar' alter ego

McFadden and Jones were fire and lightning, combining for 3,000 rush yards in their junior year. Both were named All-Americans, although McFadden -- a two-time Doak Walker winner -- was seen as the better of the two prospects.

Unsurprisingly, McFadden saw his draft number be called first; the Raiders selected him with the No. 4 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Jones didn't have to wait too long to join his former Arkansas teammate, with the Cowboys selecting him with the No. 22 pick.

Neither player was able to hit the heights their draft position might have suggested. McFadden posted two 1,000-yard seasons but struggled with injuries and inconsistent performances for much of his career. Jones, too, had flashes of brilliance in his early career. He was out of the sport by 2013, however, unable to overcome injury concerns.

Williams and Brown conjured spells during their time at Arkansas, emerging as the SEC's most dangerous backfield duo. They were rewarded for their exploits with lofty draft slots -- Williams was selected No. 3 in the NFL Draft by the Buccaneers, while Brown was selected No. 5 by the Dolphins.

Williams looked on track to have the better playing career, capturing Rookie of the Year honors after recording nearly 1,200 yards in his maiden year in Tampa Bay. His performances fell off as injuries reared their ugly head. By 2012, Williams' NFL career was over, with his rookie season accounting for more than a fourth of his total career yardage.

Brown, meanwhile, dazzled in Miami, emerging as one of the NFL's most exciting runners in the Dolphins' wildcat system. A one-time Pro Bowler, Brown wasn't quite a supernova. But with nearly 7.500 yards from scrimmage to his name, he enjoyed a better career than most at his position.MORE: How will Jeremiyah Love fit with the Cardinals' offense?

Williams and Anderson dazzled for Florida in the mid-1980s, finding lanes -- and success -- behind the Gators' vaunted "Great Wall of Florida" offensive line. They combined for more than 5,500 rushing yards across their four years in Gainesville, earning four All-SEC honors between them.

Both players entered the NFL Draft in 1986, hoping to come off the board in the draft's early stages. Their wishes were granted; Williams went No. 15 overall to the Seahawks, while the Bears selected Anderson No. 27 overall.

Both Williams and Anderson were wildly successful across their professional careers. The former was a two-time Pro Bowler who played in Super Bowl 30 for the Steelers, while the latter made four straight Pro Bowls from 1988-1991. Anderson ranks third in rushing yards (6,166) and second in touchdowns (51) in Chicago history. He spent the whole of his eight-year career in the Windy City.

Here's a look at how Love and Price's college stats compare to one another:

Like this article?

Order custom jerseys for your team with free design

Related Topics

Related News

Back to All News