The Setup

Despite his historic numbers at Stanford, highly-decorated running back Bryce Love will not be attending the 2018 NFL Draft.

The 2017 college football season cemented the draft statuses of Saquon Barkley, Rashaad Penny, Kerryon Johnson, Sony Michel and Nick Chubb, all of whom contributed to their respective pro teams in 2018.

But there was one running back, the one who stood above the rest, who decided to return for his senior season — a move which may have ultimately derailed a once promising career.

Running into History

Following in the footsteps of Carolina Panthers’ 2017 eighth-overall pick Christian McCaffrey, Love carried the Cardinal to a 9-5 record in his junior season, taking 263 carries for a Stanford-record 2,118 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Along the way, Love broke numerous school, Pac-12 and FBS records, was awarded the Lombardi and Doak Walker Awards for being the best college football player and best running back, respectively, and finished as a Heisman runner-up to Baker Mayfield.

Almost every week, Love was the best player on the field and his elusiveness, talent and skill had him very high on many Draft boards.

Following a 37-39 loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl, however, Love made the decision to return for Stanford for his senior season, as he worked to earn his degree in human biology.

Honored to be a Cardinal and to play for this University another year! Back to work

— Bryce Love (@Blovee_20) January 16, 2018

Worst-Case Scenario

Coming off a unanimous All-American and Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year campaign, the expectations for Love were high, but the stakes for his career were even higher.

In what would prove to be an indicator game against San Diego State in Week 1, Love mustered just 29 yards.

The pre-season All-American provided a brief respite from critics with a Week 2 bounce-back 136-yard performance against Pac-12 rival USC, but it would be Love’s only 100-yard game of the season, as defenses keyed in on Stanford’s running game.

A nagging ankle injury only compounded his struggles and by October, Love’s status as the nation’s top back was officially over.

Love finished the year with just 739 rushing yards, a career-low average per carry (4.8 yards) and six touchdowns.

No awards, no hype, no Heisman and no honors, and a 23-13 victory over Cal in the final week of the 2018 regular season saw Love tear his ACL.

A Murky Future

One season removed from college football history, Love must now enter the Draft with less production, less durability and a season of rehab on the horizon.

The ACL tear is going to be the toughest sell for teams looking to draft Love, who, as an elusive back, depends his elite speed for making big plays and taking chunks out of opposing defenses.

A team will take a banner on Love, banking on the belief that he can completely heal from his injuries and return to his 2017 form.

Analysts are predicting his return to land sometime between training camp and the end of what would be his rookie season.

Once a potential first-round pick, Love could feasibly wait until day three of the Draft to hear his name.

He could even go undrafted, but that’s an unlikely scenario for the one-time Heisman runner-up.

There is still a wealth of potential in Love and more than a few teams are willing to help him realize it.