ACL surgery clouds Love’s draft status

It turns out Bryce Love’s decision to skip Stanford’s bowl game was really not a choice for the Cardinal’s star running back. He revealed Friday that he missed the Sun Bowl because he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee against Cal.

In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Love said he’s still in the early stages of recovering from his injury, which has dropped his NFL draft stock. While he will attend the NFL combine next month, he’s still not sure when he will be cleared for football activities after his Dec. 18 surgery with Dr. James Andrews.

“I’m very grateful to Dr. Andrews and his team for making the surgery a seamless process,” Love told Yahoo Sports. “Obviously, there’s no such thing as an ideal injury, but I’m on the path to recovery, and my goal remains the same — getting drafted by an NFL team and being the ultimate professional. I’ll be back better than I’ve ever been.”

It was assumed Love was making the same business decision exCardinal star Christian McCaffrey made in 2016 when he decided to skip the Sun Bowl to prepare for the draft. There was no indication he was actually hurt until Yahoo Sports’ report came out.

Love’s injury occurred in the fourth quarter of Stanford’s Big Game win over Cal on Dec. 1. He had gained 74 yards during the game before exiting when he injured his knee on a late carry. MIAMI HIRES COORDINATOR AWAY FROM ALABAMA >> Miami has hired Dan Enos as its new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, luring him away from national runner-up Alabama. Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz said that Enos was his “primary target” since he took over the Miami program last week. Enos was at Alabama for just one season, serving as quarterbacks coach and associate head coach under Nick Saban. ALABAMA LOSES FOUR TO PROS >> Four Alabama players are skipping their final seasons to enter the NFL draft, including All-America left tackle Jonah Williams and Outland Trophywinning defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. Those projected first-rounders announced their intentions, along with versatile tailback Josh Jacobs and tight end Irv Smith Jr.

COORDINATOR RETURNS TO UTAH >> Andy Ludwig is returning to Utah as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Ludwig, who served in the same position for the Utes from 2005-08, has been offensive coordinator at Vanderbilt since 2015. He replaces Troy Taylor, who became the head coach at Sacramento State.

Women’s college basketball

STANFORD TOPS ARIZONA STATE >> Alanna Smith scored 25 points, and DiJonai Carrington hit a momentum-changing half-court shot to end the third quarter, helping No. 6 Stanford hold off No. 19 Arizona State 72-65 in Tempe, Arizona.

Stanford (13-1, 3-0 Pac-12) dominated the first half to lead by 12 before Arizona State (11-4, 2-2) charged back in the third quarter. The Sun Devils pulled within 4847, but Carrington buried a halfcourt shot at the buzzer to kick off a 9-0 Cardinal run.

CAL COMEBACK CLIPPED >> Cal rallied from a 14-point deficit to tie Arizona, but the Wildcats (13-2, 3-1 Pac-12) prevailed down the stretch and won 60-55 in Tucson, Arizona. Kristine Anigwe led the Bears (10-4, 1-2) with 19 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocks.

NBA

GRIZZLIES EXPECT BROOKS TO MISS REMAINDER OF SEASON >> Memphis Grizzlies swingman Dillon Brooks is expected to miss the remainder of the season because of a ruptured ligament in his right big toe. The Grizzlies announced Brooks underwent surgery Friday.

Soccer

QUAKES DRAFT HAJI FROM VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH >> Somali refugee Siad Haji’s long soccer journey will continue in San Jose after the teenager became the No. 2 overall pick in the Major League Soccer draft. The Earthquakes grabbed the 5-foot-8 midfielder from Virginia Commonwealth after expansion FC Cincinnati took UCLA forward Frankie Amaya first in Chicago.

Haji, who turned 19 in December, is part of the Quakes’ continuing effort to rebrand themselves with young players who will be groomed by new coach Matias Almeyda, the former manager of Mexico’s famed Guadalajara. In two seasons at Virginia Commonwealth, Haji had seven goals and 18 assists in 37 games. He was the Atlantic 10’s midfielder of the year as a junior in 2018 and a first-team All-American by TopDrawerSoccer.

Cal defender Sam Junqua of Saratoga was selected eighth overall by the Houston Dynamo, and Stanford forward Amir Bashti of Cupertino was taken at No. 48 by defending champ Atlanta United.

The Quakes also landed Seattle University midfielder Sergio Rivas, a U.S. citizen born in Mexico, and Simon Fraser forward Mamadi Camara, a Canadian citizen born in Guinea, in the second round.

San Jose also has the No. 50 and No. 74 overall picks in the upcoming third and fourth rounds.

Baseball

SMITH AGREES TO DEAL WITH GIANTS >> Giants closer Will Smith, who has been the subject of trade rumors this winter, agreed to a one-year, $4.225 deal with the team, USA Today reported.

The 29-year-old left-hander, who supplanted Hunter Strickland as San Francisco’s closer in the second half of 2018, enjoyed a big season for the Giants. Smith had impressive numbers this past season, which he ended with a 2.55 ERA to go along with a 0.98 WHIP. RECORD RAISE FOR DEGROM >> NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets agreed to a $17 million, one-year contract, a record raise for an arbitration-eligible player from his $7.4 million salary.

LEMAHIEU DEAL WITH YANKEES

MAY CLOSE DOOR ON MACHADO >> Gold Glove-winning free-agent second baseman D.J. LeMahieu and the Yankees agreed to a $24 million, two-year contract, a person

Basketball

JUDGE ORDERS REINSTATEMENT OF PREP BASKETBALL PLAYER >> An Alabama judge temporarily reinstated the eligibility of prep basketball player Maori Davenport who had been suspended over what her parents described as a mistake payment from US Basketball. Pike County Circuit Judge Sonny Reagan issued an order stopping the Alabama High School Athletic Association from disqualifying Davenport until the court rules on a complaint filed by the teen’s parents. It is unclear when the court will rule on the complaint.

Golf

KUCHAR LEADS IN HAWAII >> Matt Kuchar ran off four birdies in five holes to start his second round, handled the par 5s at Waialae CC and finished with a round of 7-under 63 to take a one-shot lead over Andrew Putnam at the Sony Open in Honolulu. Kuchar was at 14-under 126, matching the best 36-hole score of his career. Putnam had a bogey-free 65. Chez Reavie (65) and Stewart Cink (62) were four back.