The Connection: Bryce and I were teammates at Stanford during the 2016-2017 season.
Quote of the Episode: "Life happens, man. You got to be able to adjust, you got to be able to adapt. Being able to take those same lessons that I've had from football and the experiences that I've had to bleed into who I am today.”
Bet You Didn’t Know: As a kid, Bryce Love held the national record for the fastest 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter times in both the 12-and-under and 13-14 age groups. Check him out in 2009.
In Episode 7 of Under the Number, I sat down with Stanford legend and 2017 Heisman trophy finalist Bryce Love. From his early days as a "chubby kid" playing flag football to becoming one of the most electrifying players in college football history, Bryce covered his incredibly football journey from start to finish.
Growing up in North Carolina, Bryce credits his track background for his explosive speed on the gridiron. "It really translates directly to the football field," he explains. "Being able to learn the fundamentals of how to run efficiently, pick up speed, hold top-end speed - it was one of the big things that contributed to the success that I ultimately ended up having."
Bryce also pulls back the curtain on the high-stakes world of college recruiting, discussing the concept of "uncommitted offers" and what ultimately drew him to Stanford. "Stanford was the perfect fit for me," he reflects. "It was definitely tough to go coast to coast, but it was the right decision."
In his record-setting 2017 campaign, Bryce rushed for over 2,000 yards in just 13 games. He shares his mindset during that historic season: "I felt like my duty was to be the best version of myself for the person next to me, the people that were counting on me." Despite the media frenzy, Bryce stayed grounded: "The beautiful thing about Stanford is the environment really contributes to putting success in perspective."
But Bryce's journey took an unexpected turn when he tore his ACL on the last play of his college career.
Through it all, Bryce's love for the game remains unwavering. "The love that I have for football is never going to go away," he affirms. "Life happens, you got to be able to adjust, adapt, and take those same lessons from football and let them bleed into who I am today."
Tune in for an inspiring conversation with a true warrior both on and off the field. Like, subscribe, and catch every episode of Under the Number wherever you listen to podcasts!
