FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Penn State isn’t the only team in Thursday’s Orange Bowl with an uncertain status of a key player. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love injured his knee in a 23-10 win over Georgia in last week’s Sugar Bowl. Marcus Freeman provided an update on Love’s status on Wednesday.
“Jeremiah’s had a good week of practice. We have to be smart in terms of how much you know we’re asking him to do in practice. We gotta get him ready for the game, but he’s confident,” Freeman said. “Nobody, I think, feels 100% right now. We’re in Week 15 or Game 15. And nobody feels 100%, but J Love should be good to go.”
Love leads the Fighting Irish with 1,076 rushing yards and 18 total touchdowns this season. He’s an instrumental piece of their offense, and has dealt with injuries and illness dating back to the team’s 49-35 win at USC on Nov. 30. It was there that he injured his knee in similar fashion.
Love hasn’t taken more than eight carries in a game in the two contests following his injury against the Trojans. He did, however, break out for a 98-yard touchdown rush in Notre Dame’s win over Indiana in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
He was limited to just six carries for 19 yards against the Bulldogs. His workload in that game was subsequently split between quarterback Riley Leonard and backup running back Jadarian Price, who is expected to play a significant role if Love is limited against the Nittany Lions.
Leonard ranks second on the Fighting Irish with 831 rushing yards and 15 scores on the ground. Price trails close behind with 720 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
“He is a young man that has put a lot of work in to the point that he’s gotten to right now,” Freeman said of Price. “He constantly gets better. … He takes advantage of his opportunities, and he’s getting more and more opportunities.”
