[Hank 91]

I've been reading that there's a good chance we could be bringing in a top-5 offensive linemen group. Graham Shuler, who committed earlier this week, is a good start. If anything, I think Shaw is recruiting more aggressively than Harbaugh, but that's partially because he can. When I had the chance to speak to him on the Coaches Swing last month I asked him directly about how the recruiting process was different now than it was four or five years ago, and his answer was simple: he's getting into living rooms now that he never would've seen back then. Also, I love that the program has finally started using Stanford's academics as a selling point rather than an excuse. Last year at this time I was looking forward to a great season, but I wasn't necessarily confident in the long term viability of the program. But now, with the way Shaw and his staff was able to hold on to most of the 2011 recruits in the wake of Harbaugh's departure, combined with the early success in gathering this class, I feel better about the program than I ever have.

[Hank 91]

I've been reading that there's a good chance we could be bringing in a top-5 offensive linemen group. Graham Shuler, who committed earlier this week, is a good start. If anything, I think Shaw is recruiting more aggressively than Harbaugh, but that's partially because he can. When I had the chance to speak to him on the Coaches Swing last month I asked him directly about how the recruiting process was different now than it was four or five years ago, and his answer was simple: he's getting into living rooms now that he never would've seen back then. Also, I love that the program has finally started using Stanford's academics as a selling point rather than an excuse. Last year at this time I was looking forward to a great season, but I wasn't necessarily confident in the long term viability of the program. But now, with the way Shaw and his staff was able to hold on to most of the 2011 recruits in the wake of Harbaugh's departure, combined with the early success in gathering this class, I feel better about the program than I ever have.