Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Stanford Football: Top 5 breakout candidates for 2017

By Connor Muldowney

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 7: Tight end Dalton Schultz #9 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates a second quarter touchdown at Folsom Field on November 7, 2015 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 7: Tight end Dalton Schultz #9 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates a second quarter touchdown at Folsom Field on November 7, 2015 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

How fun could it possible be to back up an All-American candidate like Christian McCaffrey for a couple of years? Just ask junior running back Bryce Love. Now entering his third season of eligibility with the Cardinal, he looks to finally take the reigns of the backfield.

More: Stanford Football: 5 bold predictions for 2017

As a freshman in 2015, Love rushed for 225 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per carry, but he got nearly 100 more touches as a sophomore. In fact, he ran the ball 111 times for 783 yards and three scores last season. That was good for 7.1 yards per touch and he filled in for McCaffrey quite nicely.

Now he’s going to full in for the former Heisman finalist full-time as he’s now with the Carolina Panthers, playing on Sundays. Love is a speedy, elusive 5-foot-10, 196-pound back who has the ability to threaten the defense as a receiver as well as an effective rusher.

Although he didn’t showcase his receiving ability much as a sophomore, he did have 15 catches for  250 yards and a touchdown as a freshman.

Next: College Football: Top 50 breakout candidates for 2017

Love is finally getting his shot and he’s got the potential to put up over 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. He might even crack the 2,000-yard mark for all-purpose yards.

Home/Stanford Cardinal