Utah State’s Jordan Love to declare for 2020 NFL Draft

Utah State quarterback Jordan Love (10) runs for yardage after avoiding the tackle by New Mexico defensive lineman Joey Noble (98) during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019 in Albuquerque, N.M. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State junior quarterback Jordan Love announced Tuesday that he will forgo his final season of eligibility and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Love, who will receive his bachelor’s degree from Utah State this month in exercise science, will play in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl against Kent State on Friday, Dec. 20, in Frisco, Texas.

“Ever since I was a kid, I have always dreamed of playing in the National Football League,” said Love. “After spending the past four years at Utah State University, I am blessed and humbled to now have that opportunity to pursue my dream and I want to thank my family, friends, coaches and teammates for helping me get to where I am today. With that being said, I have decided to forgo my senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft. I will always be an Aggie.”

Love, who redshirted at Utah State during the 2016 season, has started 31 of the 37 games he has played in over the last three years and is USU’s second-winningest quarterback in school history with a 21-10 (.667) record. He earned second-team all-Mountain West honors as a sophomore and was named to the conference’s honorable mention team as a junior.

“Jordan and his family have been tremendous throughout this process, and he is making this announcement now so it’s not a distraction to the team and his teammates leading up to the bowl game,” said Utah State head coach Gary Andersen. “Jordan has been a great student-athlete and is a tremendous teammate, and we are excited for his future in the NFL. Go Aggies!”

Love, a top NFL prospect, had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2018 as he set five single-season school records, including 32 touchdown passes, 3,567 passing yards, seven 300-yard passing games, 234 points responsible for and being named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week five times, while tying the single-season school record with a pair of 400-yard passing games. Furthermore, his 267 completions and 3,630 yards of total offense as a sophomore rank second all-time in school history for a single season, while his 64.0 completion percentage ranks fourth. Love also tied the single-game school record with five touchdown passes against both UNLV and San José State last season, becoming just the fifth quarterback in school history to accomplish the feat. His 32 completions against SJSU are the second-most in school history, while his 491 passing yards in that game are the third-most.

Love was also tabbed the Offensive MVP of the 2018 New Mexico Bowl as he set school bowl game records with his four touchdown passes, 359 passing yards and 362 yards of total offense in Utah State’s 52-13 win against North Texas.

For his career, Love is 659-of-1,086 (.607) passing for 8,283 yards with 57 touchdowns and 28 interceptions, and ranks second all-time in school history in passing yards and attempts, third in touchdown passes, completions and total offense (8,670 yards), and fourth in completion percentage. Love also ranks first all-time in school history with 11-career 300-yard passing games and has four completions of at least 80 yards, which is also a school record.

During his time at Utah State, he has thrown five touchdown passes in a game twice, four or more touchdown passes in a game five times, three or more touchdown passes in a game eight times and multiple touchdown passes in a game 15 times.

This season, Love is 263-of-434 (.606) passing for 3,085 yards with 17 touchdowns. He is just the second quarterback in school history to have multiple 3,000-yard passing games and is just 16 passing yards shy of setting the school record for most passing yards by a junior. Love also holds the school record for passing yards by a freshman (1,631) and sophomore (3,567).

Love will begin combine training in January. Some future dates of importance are the NFL Combine, which will be held Feb. 23-March 2 in Indianapolis, USU’s Pro Day in March and the NFL Draft, which will take place April 23-25 in Las Vegas.

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1 Comment

  • Kevin December 11, 2019 at 12:08 pm Reply

    ….probably should stick around and get better…this season sucked for love. He went into the season in the Heisman conversation…..end of season…not so much. Bad choice

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