Jeremiyah Love, a Notre Dame product who may become the first running back to be a top-five NFL draft selection since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 overall in 2018, said he is trying not to pay too much attention to where he might land as the 2026 NFL Draft draws nearer. Love spoke to USA TODAY Sports in a recent interview on behalf of his partnership with New Balance. The 2025 All-American said "it's appealing" to see himself routinely listed among the draft's top talents and as a potential top-five selection, but said his focus ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft largely lies elsewhere. **The Prospect and the Pitch** "At the end of the day, I'm gonna go somewhere. And it really doesn't matter where I go or what pick I go," Love told USA TODAY Sports. "I'm gonna go and do my thing. So, I try not to worry about it because that's just another stressor in my life that I don't need." He said he has been concentrating on his pre-draft process and added, "I've just been taking it all in and enjoying the process as a whole. You only get to do this one time in your life, so I'm trying to make it as stress-free as possible and enjoy the small moments I get to have with all these coaches." Love said he has been pleased with both his athletic performance at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine and his interactions with NFL teams. The 20-year-old said he has particularly enjoyed forging connections with coaches and believes those meetings have given him a chance to show what he is about. "I go into meetings with these coaches and I kill 'em, no matter what they throw at me – whether it's talking about scheme, talking about ball, talking about me as a person," Love said. "I'm very confident in myself and just confident in my ability to answer any questions they throw at me." When asked what he will bring to an NFL team, Love said, "I'm willing to do anything for the team to have success. I can do everything you need me to do. I can play special teams, I can run the ball, you can put me out wide or in the slot and I can receive, I can block, put somebody on their ass, whatever you need me to do." He added, "I'm a complete player. I'm a team player. So, whatever team drafts me is gonna get the best version of me, and I'm gonna put in the work every single day." Love said those factors will make him a game-changer who can quickly turn whichever NFL team selects him into a contender. "At the end of the day, we're gonna win some championships, win some Super Bowls and have some great seasons," Love said. **The City Prepares for the Spectacle** In Pittsburgh, hospital systems are mobilizing in anticipation of hundreds of thousands of NFL Draft visitors flocking to the city this month. Axios said record crowds, alcohol and late nights can quickly overwhelm emergency departments, and that hospitals are expanding services across the event's footprint to free up critical resources for visitors and residents. Allegheny Health Network and UPMC are working with the city and NFL to ensure this year's draft goes off without a hitch, drawing on lessons from past host cities and other high-turnout North Shore events. AHN Prehospital Care and Allegheny General will staff at least three medical forts near Acrisure Stadium, providing on-site care from doctors, nurses and other clinicians equipped to triage and treat beyond basic first aid, according to AHN's comprehensive plan released last week. UPMC will staff a network of aid tents in high-traffic areas across the North Shore and Downtown, KDKA reports. AHN mobile clinics will be in Market Square for first aid and minor health concerns, and AHN Downtown Express's walk-in clinic near Point State Park will extend its hours to 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. from April 22-25. Teams will run a command center at Nova Place on the North Side to direct patient flow and coordinate with EMS amid road closures and heavy traffic. Allegheny General staff recently held a mass casualty drill simulating a crisis at Acrisure to stress-test rapid response to a worst-case scenario. Allegheny General is one of three Level I trauma centers within city limits. Brent Rau, Allegheny General emergency department medical director, said in a statement, "[The hospital] has a long history of effectively responding to events that bring high volumes of people to the North Side and patients to our doors." The draft is April 23-25, and the city’s hospitals are already organizing around the crowd surge the league is bringing with it. The whole operation shows how the spectacle of professional football spills outward, pulling in health systems, city services, and emergency planning so the event can keep moving on schedule.
