Love on Stanford career: ‘a blessing’
Ankle injury has slowed tailback, but he has left indelible mark
If he doesn’t gain another yard, Bryce Love always will be part of Stanford football lore. Despite his blazing speed, he knows he can’t beat the clock, though. It’s ticking toward the end of his career.
Senior Night against Oregon State on Saturday at Stanford Stadium was “a surreal moment,” he said. “It was one of those experiences you have to take in. It was bittersweet, the last time playing there.”
As he ran onto the field and heard the ovation, he said, he reflected on coming to a Utah game as a Cardinal recruit in 2014. On playing in his first game at Northwestern in 2015 (one carry for a 2-yard loss). On watching Christian McCaffrey’s mesmerizing performances.
“It’s a blessing to have experienced it,” Love said.
As he recounted his memories, he didn’t mention his 59-yard run against USC this year or the almost weekly 50-yard runs in his schoolrecord 2,118-yard 2017 season. Over the second half of that season, he was hobbled by an ankle injury.
He reinjured it early this year, although it has gotten better the past few weeks, head coach David Shaw said.
“He’s not quite at 100 percent, but Saturday was probably the closest he’s been in about a month,” he said. “He felt quick, he felt explosive.”
Love said there were “no tweaks or anything like that. I’m feeling good and excited to get out there.”
“Out there” is Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, site of Saturday’s 121st Big Game. He rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown last year against Cal and had a 48-yard TD run in the 2015 game as a freshman.
His favorite Big Game memory, however, was not a specific play but simply his first experience in the game, “seeing what it was all about. All of them have been exciting games, one of those games you’re always happy to be a part of.”
Until recently, Shaw had limited Love’s practice time severely to try to protect his ankle. According to the head coach, Love “pushed back and said, ‘I’d love for Wednesday to a big work day for me because I need to see the looks, I need to feel the run plays and be in there with the (pass) protections. Then take care of me Thursday and Friday, and I’ll be ready for you on Saturday.’ ”
That has been the routine the past few weeks, Shaw said, “and Dr. Love has been correct.”
Love is a human biology major and plans to go to medical school with the hope of becoming a pediatrician. But he said his studies have been of little help in treating and rehabbing his ankle. He has “nowhere near the knowledge” that strength and conditioning coach Shannon Turley and his staff have, he admitted. “I’m still learning my way around the block.”
This season has been frustrating for Love. He might not reach 1,000 yards rushing after more than doubling that figure last year. He has 580 yards on 122 carries with five touchdowns. His average per carry is 4.8 yards, a far cry from last year’s 8.1.
He doesn’t blame the offensive line for not opening more holes. “I’m just concentrating on what I’m able to do,” he said. “I’m not perfect. I definitely make mistakes here and there. Not pointing fingers, but looking in the mirror and understanding what I can do better as a player.”
His decision to forgo this year’s NFL draft is only one of the reasons Shaw often has said Love “is everything that’s right about college football.”
A former NFL scout said that decision probably cost Love considerably in his draft status. The scout, who didn’t want to be identified, said Love might have gone late in the first round in the 2018 draft but probably will be chosen between late in the second round and the midthird round in 2019.
“If you’re a chronic-injury guy, that doesn’t bode well for the next level,” he said. “He’s not as durable as McCaffrey. That said, God only gives so many guys speed like that.”