[CardinalSagehen]

[quote author=stupac2 link=topic=18294.msg217386#msg217386 date=1512667524]
Why wouldn't Love get that tag this year? He's been injured in both of the past two years, ie whenever he had to carry any workload at all. (I know that the 2016 injury wasn't during the season, but he was the primary back during the offseason and got hurt then, that still matters.)

I am certain the pro scouts (who are any good. Not all of them are.) know this, and undoubtedly it is a concern. That is why some of the draft positions being quoted surprise me a bit on the high side. The off-season injury was never really quantified. How hurt was he? Exactly what was the injury? AFAIK, nobody knows exactly, so that one may not count quite as much.  However, if he got hurt again, it would for certain hang the tag on him. If it happened to be another high ankle sprain, that would be a major red flag. It wouldn't necessarily be fair, but if somebody gets injured two years in a row, especially in the same place, it tends to depress their draft stock.
[/quote]

Having seen him face-to-face at the open scrimmage just before the 2016 season, I'd speculate that it was almost certainly the same kind of injury, a high ankle sprain.  He was wearing the same kind of boot that he wore at OSU this season.  I can't confirm if it was the same ankle, though.

I agree that it wouldn't look good if he had another high ankle injury next season in college football.  But this is not the type of injury that anyone assumes is long-term career threatening.  Any history of knee injuries (e.g., S. Skov) or multiple concussions (e.g., C. Owusu) would be a much bigger deal in terms of draft stock.

This season, Love has shown a remarkable willingness and ability to play with pain, putting the team's interests above his personal interests.  I think this demonstration of toughness might neutralize some concerns about his ankle's durability. 

[CardinalSagehen]

[quote author=stupac2 link=topic=18294.msg217386#msg217386 date=1512667524]
Why wouldn't Love get that tag this year? He's been injured in both of the past two years, ie whenever he had to carry any workload at all. (I know that the 2016 injury wasn't during the season, but he was the primary back during the offseason and got hurt then, that still matters.)

I am certain the pro scouts (who are any good. Not all of them are.) know this, and undoubtedly it is a concern. That is why some of the draft positions being quoted surprise me a bit on the high side. The off-season injury was never really quantified. How hurt was he? Exactly what was the injury? AFAIK, nobody knows exactly, so that one may not count quite as much.  However, if he got hurt again, it would for certain hang the tag on him. If it happened to be another high ankle sprain, that would be a major red flag. It wouldn't necessarily be fair, but if somebody gets injured two years in a row, especially in the same place, it tends to depress their draft stock.
[/quote]

Having seen him face-to-face at the open scrimmage just before the 2016 season, I'd speculate that it was almost certainly the same kind of injury, a high ankle sprain.  He was wearing the same kind of boot that he wore at OSU this season.  I can't confirm if it was the same ankle, though.

I agree that it wouldn't look good if he had another high ankle injury next season in college football.  But this is not the type of injury that anyone assumes is long-term career threatening.  Any history of knee injuries (e.g., S. Skov) or multiple concussions (e.g., C. Owusu) would be a much bigger deal in terms of draft stock.

This season, Love has shown a remarkable willingness and ability to play with pain, putting the team's interests above his personal interests.  I think this demonstration of toughness might neutralize some concerns about his ankle's durability.