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Ball State's Love takes pride in blocking
Ball State's Love takes pride in blocking
Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson
Dante Love heard the whispers from his teammates last season and could sense their indignation. When the receiving corps would head to the sleds to work on demanding blocking drills, Love had a cush gig throwing with the quarterbacks and working on trick plays.
Love's receiving brethren would shoot glances his direction and make not-so-subtle jabs about his lack of toughness or the coaches treating him differently than the other receivers.
"They've got to hit these sleds and roll on the ground and it takes all the energy out of these guys," Love said. "They'd say I've got it good or that I'm lucky. I didn't say anything, but it kind of hurt my feelings."
The lack of blocking work showed on the field. Love said there were several instances where he would forget to block and his defender would tackle the ball carrier.
"When it happens in the game, it was like, 'Oh, it's OK,' and then you really don't think about it," Love said. "But when you see it on film, and you watch the running back get loose and you're just standing there and you could have helped, it makes you feel really bad. I just got tired just going through that. I didn't know what my teammates thought, but I just wanted to be a better player."
So this past summer, Love committed himself to blocking. He did extra work on the sleds and spent the summer working on technique. During practices this year, he spends more time doing the dirty work with the receiving corps and works on quarterbacking and trick plays later. He said blocking has become as much a part of his game as receiving, rushing or any of the various offensive options that have made him statistically the No. 3 all-purpose player in the country.
And he's gaining his teammates' respect as a complete player.
Now when they watch film, Love said, he's sticking his defenders and opening up holes for running backs and other receivers. He said he's also keeping defenses honest by varying blocks for the running game and fake blocks that break him open for big passes.
Love leads the nation in receiving yards per game with 144.33, but he's also helped Ball State become the 15th-best in total offense in the country. Love said he also takes pride in MiQuale Lewis becoming the No. 10 running back in the country.
"I'm really impressed with my blocking because that's the thing coaches said I didn't want to do," Love said. "Like I didn't want to do the dirty work. But basically, right now I'm kind of excited about getting out and wanting to block.
"I don't want to be the guy who's just known for doing good things when the ball's in my hand. I also want to help out my teammates and help them get a big play. I don't want to be selfish. I'm not a selfish person, I'm here to help my team win."
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