Linebacker Alfieri will miss bowl game

SAN ANTONIO — It has been a difficult season for Stanford redshirt junior linebacker

Joey Alfieri, who has been declared out for the Alamo Bowl because of a shoulder injury that defensive coordinator Lance Anderson said bothered Alfieri all season. He may need surgery.

Alfieri was one of the team’s leading tacklers last year as an outside linebacker, but he was moved to the inside in training camp because it appeared the team needed help there. He was moved back outside starting with the next-to-last regular-season game against Cal. He reinjured his shoulder the following Saturday against Notre Dame.

“It wasn’t as easy or as natural for him to move to the inside as he had hoped, but he was getting better and better,” Anderson said Tuesday. “I was surprised at how easy the transition back was for him. He didn’t miss a beat there. It’s going to be great to have him back healthy next year.”

Love looks strong: Given a four-week layoff after the Pac-12 title game, tailback

Bryce Love has been taking part almost fully in practices at Alamo Stadium. Whether his balky ankle will be a factor is anybody’s guess, but his teammates say he’s cutting and running the way he did before his injury against Oregon on Oct. 14. Reid’s dilemma: Junior safety Justin Reid is among the Stanford players, who, like Love, are considering skipping their senior season to enter the NFL draft. “To be honest, I’m still very confused on what I want to do,” Reid said. “It’s 50-50 right now.”

Reid’s brother, Eric, who turned pro after his junior at LSU and was a first-round pick by the 49ers in 2013, is among those counseling Justin on his decision. His brother has been a great mentor, he said. “I always felt I had to push myself to be as good as him” on the field and in the classroom, he said. Little is questionable: Freshman offensive tackle Walker

Little will be a game-time decision, a team spokesman said. The Pac-12 co-Offensive Freshman of the Year hobbled off the field against Washington State on Nov. 4 and hasn’t played since then.

Little would love to play, especially because the game is in his home state (there are eight other Texans on the team). Redshirt freshman Devery Hamilton has played well at left tackle in Little’s absence.

Animal planet: Safety Brandon Simmons was among a few Stanford players who got to swim with dolphins on a trip to SeaWorld San Antonio. “I’m pretty jealous,” cornerback

Quenton Meeks said. “I got to see a Burmese python, a bald eagle and a porcupine. I got to pet them and take pictures with them, so that made up for it.”