Standford's Love set to be back on field

Stanford running back Bryce Love expects to be back on the football field in August. Love, who measured 5 feet, 8 7/8 inches and weighed 200 pounds Thursday at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, is recovering from a torn ACL. He returned to Stanford for his senior season in 2018 rather than entering last year's draft. Love had 2,118 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns as a junior in 2017, when he finished runner-up in Heisman Trophy voting to Baker Mayfield.

He was injured in the regular-season finale against Cal and had surgery on his right knee Dec. 18. "No regrets," Love said. "In my mind, I got the opportunity to play at one of the best universities with some of my best friends for another year. We didn't win as many games as we wanted to, but you're only guaranteed 12 games.

"As of right now, the timetable is to be ready by mid-training camp and the season." As a senior, an ankle injury slowed Love before his knee injury.

Love has leaned on former Stanford teammate and fellow running back Christian McCaffrey (Carolina Panthers) to prepare for the combine. "That's my guy," Love said. "At the end of the day, I've learned so much from him while I was out in Stanford. He's a great leader and a great mentor and I'm thankful for him."

Love said Thursday he had meetings with the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers. He's been compared to Bears running back Tarik Cohen, a waterbug-quick back with limited size and strength. His long-term focus is to be a paediatrician. Love chuckled when asked if he has to convince teams he loves football more than he embraces hitting the books.

As for his greatest football trait, Love said it's obvious to anyone who has seen him play at Stanford. "Explosiveness," Love said.

"I really just want to be the best at it, the best ever to do it, and I know I'm far from that, but the mindset of working to that point, I have it and I'm willing to do it," he said. --By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media