Top College Football Star Secretly Visits NFL Super Bowl Contender
By 813 Staff
The coffee in the scouting department’s break room has been especially strong this week, and the whiteboard listing running back prospects has seen more eraser marks than usual. That’s the tell. When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ war room gets fixated on a specific player in the final stretch before the draft, the atmosphere shifts from broad evaluation to targeted obsession. Right now, multiple league sources confirm that fixation is squarely on Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Love has already made a top-30 visit to the Buccaneers’ facility, a clear signal of serious mutual interest as the draft approaches.
The visit itself, a standard part of the pre-draft process for prospects teams are seriously considering, carries extra weight given Tampa’s current roster calculus. With the 26th overall pick, the front office has been quietly exploring all avenues to inject dynamic youth into an offense that leaned heavily on a veteran backfield last season. Love’s blend of size, receiving ability, and breakaway speed fits the modern NFL mold the Bucs’ offensive brass covets. Those close to the situation say the meeting was more than a formality; it was a deep dive into schematic fit and character, areas where the organization places a premium.
This matters because it reveals the Bucs’ potential draft-day strategy. While offensive line remains a perennial need, a player of Love’s caliber at a premium position represents a chance to secure a cost-controlled cornerstone for the next five years. It’s a move that would immediately reshape the backfield committee and provide quarterback Baker Mayfield with a versatile new weapon. The visit indicates the team is doing its final homework, ensuring there are no surprises should Love’s name still be on the board when they’re on the clock.
What happens next is a waiting game shrouded in the usual smokescreens of late April. The Bucs hold the 26th pick, but the running back market is notoriously unpredictable. Several teams picking ahead of Tampa have similar needs, and a run on the position could force the front office’s hand. Conversely, if Love is available, the visit log suggests they’d be prepared to pull the trigger. The uncertainty lies in whether they’d consider a slight trade-up to secure him if he starts to slide, or if they’d hold firm and trust their board. One thing is clear from the activity at One Buc Place: Jeremiyah Love is not just another name on their list; he’s a focal point. The next two weeks will be spent determining if they can make him their next first-round pick.
