Bryce Love produced an all-time season in 2017. Can the Stanford Cardinal star and 2019 NFL Draft prospect follow up with another impressive campaign?
At the far too early stage of the 2019 NFL Draft process, the top of the board clearly favors defensive linemen and quarterbacks. Prospects at other positions are jockeying for position, but there appears to be a focus on leadership under center and dominating the line of scrimmage.
Following a draft in which Saquon Barkley was selected at No. 2 overall by the New York Giants, however, Stanford Cardinal running back Bryce Love has a chance to crash the party.
The running back position has been devalued, but generational talent will always garner attention. It’s understandable for one to believe that a high-level player can be found in the later rounds, but elite talent is elite talent—no matter where they line up.
The next running back who has a chance to qualify as such is Love, who’s coming off of an unforgettable season for the Stanford Cardinal.
Love finished the 2017 season with an unfathomable 1,973 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on an average of 8.3 yards per carry. That YPC average ranked No. 1 in the country amongst prospects who received at least 135 rushing attempts.
That’s an impressive truth considering the fact that Love ran the ball 237 times, and did so against better defenses than most of the players in his vicinity.
In fact, no player who ran the ball at least 200 times averaged more than 7.5 yards per carry. That becomes an even more awe-inspiring truth when one considers the fact that Love plays in a pro style offense that saw two different quarterbacks attempt at least 140 passes.
Neither of those players managed to complete at least 60 percent of their throws, and both ranked outside the top 50 in the country yards per attempt.
In other words: Love carried Stanford’s offense and ultimately helped his team produce a nine-win season. Yet, there were question marks remaining, including the concerning reality that he’s pulled in just 14 receptions over the past two seasons.
It’s worth noting, however, that Love produced 15 receptions for 250 yards as a freshman, and has adequate hands out of the backfield.
If Love manages to produce a more well-rounded season in 2018, he could be an early first-round draft pick. He’s one of the best pure runners in the country, if not the clear No. 1, and the added ability to diversify the passing attack would solidify his stock.
Whether or not he wins the Heisman Trophy, which he’s favored to do, Love can legitimize his status as a can’t-miss prospect this season.
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The question is: Will Bryce Love put the bow on his remarkable college career? Or will he wilt under the pressure of 2019 NFL Draft expectations?