Bryce Love

A one-year starter at Stanford, Love was stuck in Christian McCaffrey’s shadow his first two years on campus before emerging as one of college football’s best backs in 2017 with an astounding 8.3 yards per carry, setting a FBS record with 13 straight games with a 30+ yard rush. He benefited from a strong, assignment sound offensive line, which provided gaping holes, but Love deserves credit for his patience, burst and trust in the play design to maximize those opportunities. Although he runs low to the ground with better-than-expected strength and warrior toughness, Love’s durability will always be a concern due to his smaller frame. Ideally suited for a shared role in a NFL backfield, Love’s vision, speed and run anticipation are a deadly combination and if he performs well catching the ball during pre-draft workouts then he will be in high demand as a complimentary weapon. BACKGROUND A four-star running back recruit out of high school, Jonathan Bryce Love was a standout in football and track, posting 2,259 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns as a senior – was also the 2014 4x100 state champion and had offers to run track collegiately. He chose to focus exclusively on football and considered offers from several local schools, including North Carolina, N.C. State, East Carolina, Virginia Tech and Tennessee, but he ultimately committed to Stanford (4.5 GPA in high school). As a true freshman reserve, Love was fourth on the running back depth chart and recorded 225 yards on 29 carries and two scores. He moved into the back-up role as a sophomore behind McCaffrey and finished second on the team with 783 rushing yards and three scores, earning All-Pac 12 Honorable Mention honors. With McCaffrey off to the NFL, Love became Stanford’s feature back and responded with a record-breaking season, rushing for 1,973 yards and 17 touchdowns, finishing as the runner-up for the Heisman trophy.

hits the hole with timing and tempo. trusts the play design and shows outstanding patience to allow his blockers to do the dirty work. looks to finish and competes like a much bigger back. above average experience in pass protection and looks like mighty mouse, showing patience, technique and courage to body and slow down rushers. father (christopher) played football and ran track at south carolina. no concerns about his heart or toughness, playing through various lower leg injuries in 2017. – dane brugler 12/12/2017

WEAKNESSES

strengths

Lightning quick feet to stop and redirect his momentum in a fluid motion. Instant accelerator once he has an opening, using his speed to eliminate pursuit angles. His wheels at the second level are the last thing safeties want to see with his ability to set up open-field moves and take it the distance – set the FBS-record with 12 runs of 50+ yards in a single season. Low center of gravity and maintains his speed at contact to keep his feet through tackle attempts.

pint-sized for the position and lacks prototypical bone structure or growth potential. runs through arm tackles, but doesn’t have the run power or bulk to consistently break head-on tackles, especially as an inside runner. doesn’t have the lower-the-shoulder power for short-yardage.

Admirable job as a blocker, but his limited anchor strength can only do so much vs. NFL blitzers. Lacks the armor on his body to take required NFL punishment as a featured back. Unproven as a receiver out of the backfield (29 career receptions, but only six in 2017). Health and workload will need to be monitored, battling two ankle injuries much of 2017 – sprained his right ankle (Oct. 2017), missing the Oregon State game, and injured his left ankle (Nov. 2017), which hindered him down the stretch. – Dane Brugler 12/12/17

Prepped at Wake Forest (N.C.) under head coach Reggie Lucas

Four varsity letters in football, three in track and field

Four-star recruit by Scout, Rivals, ESPN and PrepStar

Nation’s sixth-best all-purpose back by Rivals, 11th by 247Sports

Nation’s 18th-best running back by ESPN, 21st by PrepStar, 39th by Scout

North Carolina’s sixth-best recruit by Rivals, eighth by ESPN and PrepStar, 10th by Scout, 20th by 247Sports

6,425 career all-purpose yards

5,372 career rushing yards, 71 touchdowns, 114.3 yards/game, 10.5 yard/rush

20 career receptions for 475 yards and seven touchdowns

37.9 yards/kickoff return on 12 career returns

2,259 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns as a senior

Led team to pair of regional titles

2014 all-state

2014 all-conference

2014 North Carolina Shrine Bowl

2014 4x100 state champion

2009 USATF Youth Athlete of the Year

USATF 11-12 year-old boys national record holder in 100m (11.64), 200m (23.37) and 400m (50.75)

USATF 13-14 year-old boys national record holder in 100m (10.73) and 200m (21.83)

2014 Cap 8 Conference MVP

2014 Wake Forest Stallion Award

2013 U.S. Army All-Combine

2013 Cap 8 all-conference first team

National Achievers Honors Society

National Honor Society

National Beta Club

Distributive Education Clubs of America

Cap 8 Academic All-Conference

Watkins Award finalist

Time Warner Scholar Athlete

Raleigh Athletic Association Scholar Athlete

WRAL Extra Effort Award

Born in Raleigh, N.C

.Full name is Jonathan Bryce Love

Son of Christopher and Angela Love

Father played football and ran track at South Carolina

One brother, Chris

Uncle, Reggie, played football at North Carolina

Enjoys video games and reading

Majoring in human biology.

Born in Raleigh, N.C. • Full name is Jonathan Bryce Love • Son of Christopher and Angela Love • Father played football and ran track at South Carolina • One brother, Chris • Uncle, Reggie, played football at North Carolina • Enjoys video games and reading • Majoring in human biology

2018

rushing
YPC	TD	YDS	CAR	LONG
4.5	6.0	736.0	165.0	59.0

receiving
REC	YPR	TD	LONG	YDS
20.0	5.0	0.0	15.0	99.0

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
0.0	1.0	1.0

kickReturns
LONG	YDS	NO	TD	AVG
24.0	56.0	3.0	0.0	18.7

2017

rushing
YPC	TD	YDS	CAR	LONG
8.1	19.0	2118.0	263.0	75.0

receiving
REC	YPR	TD	LONG	YDS
6.0	5.5	0.0	12.0	33.0

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
0.0	0.0	3.0

2016

rushing
YPC	TD	YDS	CAR	LONG
7.0	3.0	779.0	112.0	59.0

receiving
REC	YPR	TD	LONG	YDS
8.0	10.4	1.0	49.0	83.0

kickReturns
LONG	YDS	NO	TD	AVG
20.0	47.0	5.0	0.0	9.4

2015

rushing
YPC	TD	YDS	CAR	LONG
7.8	2.0	226.0	29.0	48.0

receiving
REC	YPR	TD	LONG	YDS
15.0	16.7	1.0	93.0	250.0

kickReturns
LONG	YDS	NO	TD	AVG
22.0	22.0	1.0	0.0	22.0