Could the Detroit Lions select the ‘Next Barry Sanders’ in the 2018 Draft?

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On April 23, 1989, the Detroit Lions selected a running back out of Oklahoma State with the 3rd overall pick of the NFL Draft.

That running back, as we all know, is the great Barry Sanders.

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During his 10-year career with the Lions, Sanders rushed for 15,269 yards and 99 touchdowns. In 1997, Barry was named the NFL MVP after he dominated the league by rushing for 2,053 yards while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Despite retiring from football unexpectedly in 1999 at the age of 31, Sanders is undoubtedly the greatest player to ever wear the Honolulu blue and silver for the Lions.

But, since Barry hung up his cleats, the Lions running game has been almost nonexistent. In fact, it seems like each and every year, the biggest weakness of the Lions is their rushing attack or lack thereof.

4 Years Ago Today, The Detroit Lions Did What Now Seems Unimaginable

Following the 2016 season, one which saw the Lions lose in the first round of the NFL Playoffs to the Seattle Seahawks, many believed Bob Quinn would use the NFL Draft to solidify the running back position. But, as the draft progressed, it became obvious that Quinn and the Lions front office would not select a running back but would instead go into the 2017 season with Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick as their primary backs.

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Unfortunately, for the Lions (and their fans), the ground game has once again been one of the worst in the NFL and it’s something they MUST improve if they ever want to truly be considered a Super Bowl contender. Matthew Stafford IS an elite quarterback but he has been forced to do just about everything with his arm during his career. It’s time to give him some help.

Though the Lions will have bigger needs (in my opinion) than upgrading the running back position, there is a chance they could select what they hope will turn out to be the “Next Barry Sanders” in the 1st Round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

No, I am not talking about the “can’t miss” prospect, Saquan Barkley out of Penn State, who will likely be selected in the top 5, but instead, the running back who is on pace to go well over the 2,000-yard rushing mark with the Stanford Cardinal, Bryce Love.

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Love, who is 5-feet-10, 196 pounds, has absolutely taken the college football world by storm this season, rushing for 1,848 yards and 16 touchdowns in 12 games with the Cardinal. His most impressive game came on Sept. 30 against Arizona State when he rushed for 301 yards and three touchdowns on just 25 carries. For those of you getting out your calculators, let me help. That, folks, is a whopping 12.0 yards per carry! Overall, in 2017, Love has averaged over 10 yards per carry on three separate occasions.

Let’s be honest, there will NEVER be another Barry Sanders, but check out the video above of No. 20 Bryce Love running the football and tell me you don’t start thinking about the best No. 20 in football history.

When you watch his moves and check out the stats, it’s no surprise that Love has actually surpassed Saquan Barkley in the Heisman Trophy odds.

Wait a second? Wasn’t there another No. 20 who won the Heisman Trophy and was then drafted by the Detroit Lions?

I am starting to believe it’s fate that Love ends up wearing the Honolulu blue and silver, what about you?

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