Stanford Football: 5 reasons Bryce Love will win 2018 Heisman Trophy

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal reacts to scoring a rushing touchdown during the second half of a game against the San Diego State Aztecs at Qualcomm Stadium on September 16, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

5. Love will put up improved receiving numbers

Last season, Bryce Love caught just six passes for 33 yards. When it came to the aerial attack, Stanford’s feature back was rarely featured. The year before that, when he was a sophomore backing up Christian McCaffrey, Love caught eight passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Love’s most productive season in the passing game came as a freshman, when he caught 15 passes for 250 yards and a score. Unlike McCaffrey, who was featured heavily as a dual-threat back, Love was utilized almost exclusively as a runner in the Cardinal offense.

Compared to someone like Saquon Barkley, Love was effectively nonexistent as a receiver in 2017. Even Rashaad Penny got more work through the air. But with KJ Costello becoming more comfortable as the starting quarterback, Love could get more work catching the ball out of the backfield. Stanford’s offensive catalyst doesn’t need to catch the 54 balls that Barkley hauled in last year to be effective.

Even if he only replicates the production of his freshman season, it would bolster Love’s offensive numbers for the Heisman discussion. A few touchdowns through the air certainly wouldn’t hurt either, but ultimately Love’s scoring prowess will be showcased most frequently the way he knows best.

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