Notre Dame has had more players drafted into the NFL than any school in college football, 544 in total, and has had at least one selected in 90 of the 91 drafts ever held. Seventy three have gone in the first round. The 2026 class added two of them, and made a small piece of history in the process.
| Total draft picks all time | 544, most in college football |
| First round picks all time | 73 |
| Drafts with at least one pick | 90 of 91, tied for most |
| Offensive linemen drafted | 149, most in college football |
| Highest recent picks | Jeremiyah Love, No. 3 in 2026; Joe Alt, No. 5 in 2024 |
| Six or more picks | Three straight drafts, 2024 to 2026 |
The 2026 Draft
Six Notre Dame players were selected, led by two running backs in the first round. Jeremiyah Love went third overall to Arizona and Jadarian Price 32nd to Seattle, which made Notre Dame the first school to produce the first two running backs taken in a modern draft. It was the first time the program had two running backs in the first round of the same draft, and the first time it had two first rounders at all since Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey in 2018.
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1st round, No. 3 | RB Jeremiyah Love | Arizona Cardinals |
| 1st round, No. 32 | RB Jadarian Price | Seattle Seahawks |
| 3rd round, No. 74 | WR Malachi Fields | New York Giants |
| 3rd round, No. 95 | TE Eli Raridon | New England Patriots |
| 5th round, No. 160 | OL Billy Schrauth | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 6th round, No. 210 | DL Gabriel Rubio | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Love, who finished third in the 2025 Heisman vote, was the first running back taken in the top five since 2018. Raridon was the sixth Notre Dame tight end drafted in eight years, continuing a run in which every primary Irish tight end since Anthony Fasano in 2004 has been selected.
The Two Running Backs
Love and Price were the fourth pair of running backs from one school to go in the first round of the same draft, and the first since Darren McFadden and Felix Jones of Arkansas in 2008. Notre Dame had last sent two running backs to the same draft in 1993, with Jerome Bettis and Reggie Brooks. The only comparable Notre Dame feat was 1946, when the Irish produced the first two quarterbacks selected.
The Freeman Era
Under Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame has had six or more players drafted in three consecutive years, 2024 through 2026. Joe Alt went fifth overall in 2024, the highest Irish pick in years, and the 2025 class included Rylie Mills to Seattle and Benjamin Morrison to Tampa Bay in the second round. Our head coaches page covers Freeman’s tenure.
The Streak
Notre Dame has had a player drafted in 90 of the 91 NFL drafts ever held, a streak matched by no more than a handful of programs. The 544 total picks is the most of any school, with USC second at around 530. Between them the two rivals account for more draft picks than any other pair of schools, one of several reasons the series is called the greatest intersectional rivalry in the sport. Our Notre Dame vs USC page covers that.
The Linemen
Notre Dame has had 149 offensive linemen drafted, the most of any school, a reflection of a program that built its identity on the line for a century. Quenton Nelson at sixth overall in 2018 and Joe Alt at fifth in 2024 are the two most recent top ten picks at the position.
The Bottom Line
Notre Dame has produced 544 NFL draft picks, the most of any school, and 73 first rounders, with a selection in 90 of 91 drafts. The 2026 class of six was led by Jeremiyah Love at third overall and Jadarian Price at 32nd, the first time any school has produced the first two running backs taken. Our Notre Dame Heisman winners page covers the program’s other individual honours.