Bryce Love
Running Back
Wake Forest, N.C.
Bryce Love was selected in the fourth round with the 112th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft on Saturday by the Washington Redskins. A running back from Wake Forest, North Carolina, Love is the first Cardinal selected by Washington since Trent Murphy in the second round of the 2014 Draft.
"Bryce Love is special," Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football David Shaw said. "He's not just a speedy outside-the-box guy, but he's a running back. He averaged 8.1 yards per carry and had 13 50-yard runs in 2017, things that just don't make any sense. Bryce is fast and explosive, but he also breaks tackles. He led the nation in yards after contact a year ago. He's a game changer, a field position changer. He scores touchdowns and he's also a phenomenal human being. He's going to be a strong asset for the Washington Redskins."
The 2017 Heisman Trophy runner-up and 2018 team captain, Love was a three-time All-Pac-12 honoree. He won the 2017 Doak Walker Award, Lombardi Award, was a unanimous All-American and the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year. Love finished his career with 3,866 rushing yards, 30 rushing touchdowns and 16 career 100-yard games. His 6.79 yards per carry average set a new school record.
"The reason Bryce is going to be successful is because he's a professional, he works hard, he's competitive and he's very talented," running backs coach Ron Gould said. "He's going to make plays where there aren't a lot of plays to be made. He's a lot stronger than people think – he had over 1,000 yards after contact his junior year – and he's the fastest guy in the draft. You can't count Bryce out because he has an impeccable work ethic, he's passionate and he wants to be the best to ever play the game. When the lights and cameras aren't on, Bryce is still going to be working."
During his record-breaking season in 2017, Love rushed for 2,118 yards, averaged 162.9 yards per game and a school-record 8.05 yards per carry. He had 12 100-yard games, 30 rushes of more than 20 yards, 24 of more than 30 yards, 15 40-yard rushes, an FBS record 13 50-yard rushes and seven 60-yard rushes. He set a new FBS record with 13 consecutive games with a 30-yard rush and 11 straight games with a 50-yard rush.
Love was named honorable mention All-Pac-12 last season when he totaled 166 carries for 739 yards and six touchdowns – playing in and starting 10 games. In 2016, he was also honorable mention All-Pac-12 as he totaled 783 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Love finished his career with 32 touchdowns and two two-point conversions for 196 career points.