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

1. Love will remain healthy on his Heisman path in 2018

There are several reasons why Bryce Love finished as the runner-up behind Baker Mayfield in the 2017 Heisman voting. Mayfield put up a transcendent season as a passer. And Heisman voters tend to regard quarterbacks in higher esteem than running backs, at least in the 21st century. Mayfield also managed to guide Oklahoma to the Big 12 title, a goal in which Love fell just short.

A big reason to keep in mind, also, is the fact that Love played much of the second half of the season with a balky ankle that kept him from maximizing his effectiveness on the field. He missed the Oregon State game entirely as the Cardinal struggled with the Pac-12 cellar dweller. And on his return to the field against Washington State, Love was shut down for his only sub-100-yard rushing performance of the season.

That isn’t going to happen this year. Every game will end in triple digits in rushing yards. More likely, we will be wondering whether Love can maintain a rushing average at or near 200 yards per game. Stanford’s dominant runner has proven capable of changing the complexion of any game with his ability to burst for long scoring runs.

As he angles to be the next highly-drafted running back to go from college to the pros, Love will have at least a dozen touchdowns of 50 or more yards, a feat he nearly pulled off in 2017. 2500 rushing yards will be well within reach as long as Love remains on the field. And if that happens, Stanford won’t be a runner-up in the Heisman race this time around.