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3 reasons Bryce Love should win the Heisman Trophy

By Brad Weiss

PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs with the ball against the California Golden Bears at Stanford Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs with the ball against the California Golden Bears at Stanford Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 01: Stanford Cardinal running back Bryce Love (20) after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter during the Pac-12 Championship game between the Stanford Cardinal and the USC Trojans on December 1, 2017 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA (Photo by Samuel Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 01: Stanford Cardinal running back Bryce Love (20) after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter during the Pac-12 Championship game between the Stanford Cardinal and the USC Trojans on December 1, 2017 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA (Photo by Samuel Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Replaced a legend in Christian McCaffrey

To say Love had some big shoes to fill would be an understatement. When Christian McCaffrey arrived on campus at Stanford, there were some big expectations. McCaffrey’s father was a former NFL wide receiver, and the younger McCaffrey was a highly touted prospect. What he would go on to do at the school would become the stuff of legend, and people still believe he should have won the Heisman Trophy after his record-setting 2015 campaign.

Prior to the 2016 season, the Heisman talk was all over McCaffrey, as many expected he would hoist the trophy. While he had another incredible season, it did not match the year he had in 2015, though he did lead the Pac-12 in yards from scrimmage for the second straight season. The star running back would declare for the 2017 NFL Draft after his junior season, setting the stage for his backup for the last two seasons to take over at the position.

Replacing a star player is hard to do, especially when you are only 20-years old. However, replacing a legend is nearly impossible, as their contributions to their respective program are legendary. Not only was Love able to step in and do a nice job at the running back position, but some may argue that he had a better season than McCaffrey ever had. McCaffrey rushed for over 2,000 yards in 2015, but Love came close to that this season, and actually found the end zone on the ground more times than McCaffrey did that season.

In total, Love scored 17 rushing touchdowns this season, which is only four less than McCaffrey did during his entire career at Stanford. Both players have had to carry their teams, but Love had a lot less talent around him than McCaffrey did during his time as the feature back at Stanford. McCaffrey came close to winning the Heisman, finishing second, but Love’s season should place him at the top of the voters’ ballots.

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