Heisman runner-up skipping NFL draft
Heisman Trophy runner-up Bryce Love will return to Stanford for his senior year.
The news was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle Tuesday after Love’s father texted it the news.
“Bryce will return for his senior year!” the text read, reported the Chronicle.
Love made the decision just before the Monday night deadline to declare for the draft.
Big news for #Stanford: RB Bryce Love, who would’ve been one of the draft’s top players, is coming back to school, via @tomgfitzgerald. Word was he really liked the school part of school. https://t.co/YdOCidTXtO
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 16, 2018
Love, a first team All-American running back, rushed for 2,118 yards in 2017, good for second in the nation. He scored 19 touchdowns in leading the Cardinal to a 9-5 record and a final ranking of 20th in the country.
Love set an NCAA record with 8.1 yards per carry in 2017, beating the previous mark of 7.8 yards per carry set by Nebraska’s Mike Rozier in 1983.
Despite his ridiculous numbers, Love was projected to be the ninth-best running back in the draft, according to Bleacher Report’s postseason player rankings.
Stanford RB Bryce Love, Georgia WR Terry Godwin, Clemson DT Christian Wilkins all set to return in 2018 https://t.co/gzWysRdM4n
— PigskinProspects.com (@NFLdraftpig) January 16, 2018
Based on that assessment. it’s doubtful the 5-foot-10, 196-pound Love would have gone in the first or second rounds.
It’s a pretty deep class for running backs as many draft boards had Penn State’s Saquon Barkley, Louisiana State’s Derrius Guice, USC’s Ronald Jones, Georgia’s Sony Michel and San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny, among others, listed ahead of Love.
An NFL.com scouting report of Love from October said, “Love is an intriguing back with the skills and production to entice evaluators looking for a rotational back with big-play potential. If he can master the nuances of route running, he can rival his predecessor Christian McCaffrey as a versatile offensive weapon.”
https://twitter.com/MoneyballWorks/status/953039137057136640
He finished second in rushing yards to San Diego State’s Penny, who ran for 2,248 yards.
Love’s 2,118 yards was the 15th-highest single season total of all time. Penny ranks fifth all time.
For his career, Love has 3,126 yards on the ground. Another 2,000-yard season next year could put Love in the top 20 in career rushing yards.
His best game of the 2017 season came in a 34-24 win over Arizona State where Love had 301 yards on the ground on 12 yards per carry.
With Love coming back, he’s not only one of the favorites for the 2018 Heisman, but Stanford should be considered a top 10 team next year.
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