Julian Love Becomes First Nazareth Alum Picked In NFL Draft

LA GRANGE PARK, IL — Julian Love became the first alum of Nazareth Academy ever to be selected in the NFL Draft on Saturday when the New York Giants made the former Roadrunner the 108th overall selection during the fourth round of the draft. Love, a 2016 Nazareth graduate, is a cornerback and played college football at Notre Dame.

“We are beyond excited for Julian Love, his family and the Nazareth Academy community," school president Deborah Tracy said after the Giants' selection. "To be drafted by the NFL is an amazing honor and accomplishment. To be an outstanding young person with a strong character and the ability and potential to make a positive difference in our world makes it all the sweeter.”

At Nazareth, Love was on two state championship teams including the 2014 squad that finished undefeated. He was also involved with track and field, theatre, baseball and was a Eucharistic Minister while a student at the La Grange Park school.

When he moved on to Notre Dame, he became a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and was an All-American at cornerback just last year. He is also the all-time leader in pass breakups at the school.

“This is a well deserved honor and moment for Julian,” Nazareth Head Football Coach Tim Racki said. “I observed first hand how he not only excelled at a high level on the playing field, but how, even more importantly, he lived out and spread our school’s mission.”

Therese Hawkins, Nazareth principal, agreed, noting how Love “continues to be an excellent representation of our core values of scholarship, service, spirit and unity.”