South Bend, Ind. – There were no official cheerleaders present Tuesday during Notre Dame's pro day, but Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price did their best.
Each running back has been a diehard member of the others' mutual admiration society, and the flow of compliments didn't slow as 17 Fighting Irish football players and two from Indiana State weighed, measured and drilled for pro scouts inside the Irish Athletics Center.
Love did not work out Tuesday, having solidified his position as possibly the best talent in the draft and a likely top 10 pick in part by running a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February. He ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns on 199 carries last season, and totaled 280 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 27 receptions.
Price, who ran a 4.49-second 40 at the Combine, took part in the running back route drills. He ran for 674 yards and 11 scores last year, and returned 22 kickoffs for 794 yards and three touchdowns in his career.
"J can do as much as me or possibly more," Love said. "He can kick return; I can't kick return. Well, I can, but I don't do it. But you're going to get everything you need in a football player and a running back and a receiver and a blocker. JD can do it all."
"Those are good words from Jeremiyah," Price said. "I appreciate him. Great player. He's definitely going to go top five, let's be real. But I've just got to continue what I do."
Love was greeted warmly by Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, and later by running backs coach Joel Thomas. New Orleans, which owns the eighth overall pick, also had Coach Kellen Moore, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley and Senior Vice President/Assistant General Manager Jeff Ireland in attendance.
"I had a formal (meeting) with the Saints," Love said. "I just met Coach (Moore) here at pro day. That's all the interaction we've really had. I've talked to the running backs coach, I've talked to basically the whole coaching staff. And they're great people over there.
"I would love to be a part of that organization, I feel like I would bring a lot to the team. But that's pretty much all it is. All the teams, I try to present myself the best way that I can and have great conversations with all of them. Hopefully, they like me. Hopefully, they pick me if I'm there."
Love said he has his own set of questions for NFL teams while being interviewed.
"Questions that I go into these meetings with is, how do I fit into this role? What can I do to have success on and off the field and what have you seen players do to have success?" he said. "I've learned that it takes consistency, discipline. Once you get to the league, don't change who you are.
"Like, a lot of times guys get to the league and they're, 'I made it.' No, you haven't made it. You ain't made it past being a first round draft pick. Me, I want to get to my third contract. When I get to my third contract and that's over, one day I hope they've got my gold jacket and one day I've made Pro Bowl hopefully five-plus years, then I'll think I've had some type of success. But most of the questions I ask in these meetings and go into these visits with, I just want to know how I can be successful."
Among the remaining participants were receiver Malachi Fields and tight end Eli Raridon.
Fields, a sizeable target (6 foot 4, 218 pounds) who did receiving drills but did not run the 40, had a standout week at the Senior Bowl in January. Raridon said he didn't run his best at the Combine due to a lingering injury, but was full bore on receiving and blocking drills Tuesday.
"I felt like I was able to move around pretty well in the route game and also show that I can run-block as well," Raridon said. "I want to prove I'm a guy that can do both things, and I feel like I proved that."
