HERO Sports is counting down the days until the kickoff of the 2018 college football season on Saturday, Aug. 25, by featuring the best player in the FBS at each jersey number, from 99-1. Each day, from May 18 through Aug. 24, we'll publish one article showcasing the best player whose jersey number matches the number of days remaining.
No. 20 Bryce Love
Stanford – RB
In announcing his return to Stanford for his senior season, Bryce Love became the first player in FBS history to return to school after rushing for at least 2,000 yards the previous season. And if he hits 2,000 yards again, he'll become just the second player in FBS history to have multiple 2,000-yard seasons (Troy Davis, Iowa State).
Of Love's 2,118 rushing yards last year, 1,405 came on breakaway runs (runs of at least 15 yards), according to Pro Football Focus, the biggest reason he averaged 8.1 yards per carry. He and San Diego State's Rashaad Penny (7.8 yards per carry) were the only players who averaged seven yards per carry on at least 200 carries. Love did that — and had 19 touchdowns — while battling an ankle injury for most of the season.
A Heisman finalist last year, Love enters his final season as a Heisman front-runner and the best No. 20 in college football.
