Countryside grad Mike Love aims to help Bills win Super Bowl
CLEARWATER, Fla. (BVM) – The Buffalo Bills have what is widely regarded as the top roster in the NFL today. This is important for a franchise that is still seeking out its first Super Bowl victory in team history. With the team looking to win a coveted Lombardi Trophy this season, it is critical that every member of the team give their best effort at all times in pursuit of this ultimate goal.
One Buffalo Bills player is Countryside High School alumni Mike Love, a practice squad defensive end. Love’s journey to football’s highest level is an inspiring one.
While Love was a standout for Countryside, this didn’t mean he was a heavily recruited player during his time on the team. Though he was ranked as a three-star prospect by most recruiting sites, Love was ranked outside of the top 1,000 players nationally in the Class of 2013. Unfettered, Love committed to in-state University of South Florida where he ended up becoming a star.
After missing his first season with a knee injury, Love returned to the Bulls for the 2014 season where he saw action in three games. During his redshirt sophomore year of 2015, Love played in 12 games where he recorded 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and his first career sack.
As a redshirt junior, Love took over the role as a full-time starter playing in 12 games and starting the final nine of the 2016 season. During the campaign, he recorded 27 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, two pass deflections and a forced fumble which helped USF win that year’s Birmingham Bowl over South Carolina.
During his redshirt senior season in 2017, Love recorded the best season of his Bulls career with 28 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and three pass deflections. Love finished his career with 65 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, six pass deflections and a forced fumble.
Despite his strong career at USF, Love did not hear his name called during the 2018 NFL Draft. While the 6-foot-4, 265-pound end didn’t hear his name called, he was fortunate enough to earn an opportunity with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent.
Since his entry into the league in 2018, Love has played in four regular season games recording seven career tackles. While he has not been a key contributor to the Bills on Sundays, Love has been a mainstay for the team’s practice squad.
Love may not have a job that gets him the headlines or a lot of the attention come gameday, but his play during practice helps one of the best teams in the league each week. With the Bills looking to achieve their first Super Bowl win, Love will be giving it his all every week to ensure the franchise reaches its ultimate goal.
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