[McKenwood]

Now you got me curious.  Let’s look at the bottom five non-specialist players (by 247 composite) from the 2016-2018, which I think is when we had the biggest scholarship gaps. Lots of caveats here, which you identify (like, we don’t know that the bottom of the 247 rankings was the bottom of the internal rankings) and I’m using a limited time frame, but still a useful exercise, I think.

2016: Dorian Maddox, Paxton Segina, Dylan Powell, Nate Hebrig, Malik Antoine
2017: Drew Dalman, Tucker Fisk, Stuart Head, Levani Damuni, Dalyn Wade-Pery
2018: Tae Le, Ethan Bonner, Jay Symonds, Donjae Logan, Justus Woods

So, yeah, a lot of total non-contributors, like Segina, Le, Logan, and Woods, but some guys who were back-ups like Maddox and a bona fide star, Dalman, who was our lowest ranked recruit in 2017.  In fact the bottom of that 2017 class produced not just contributors, but a number of multi-year starters.

Given the uncertainties over recruiting, I’m a big fan of taking as many shots on goal as we can, especially for positions where we historically struggle, like d-line.  I’m not polyanna enough to expect that they will all be Dalman’s or even Damuni’s, but if maybe 1 in 10 is a hidden star, 1 in 5 can be a starter, and 1/2 can be marginally better contributor than the person we had to trot out in their stead, then that’s a case for filling the class.

BC

Good discussion here. This shortfall in filling scholarships was one of several indicators that Shaw was not on top of his job after the Iowa Rose bowl. Not only were scholarships not filled but certain positions groups were neglected, especially the lines and QB.

Given the time necessary for Stanford to physically develop offensive and defensive linemen these extra scholarships should have been devoted to these position groups. The 2019 - 2021 seasons might have been different with players similar to Dalman, Herbig, Fisk and Powell filling those slots.

One other area that Stanford has fallen down in recent years is the quality of their walk-ons. In the Harbaugh/early Shaw years some really good players (future pros) ended up as scholarship players. If you have a productive walk-on program then maybe you leave a scholarship or two open as a reward for walk-ons who become starters. Treymane has been a recent success story but who else? Spencer Jorgenson? Caleb Robinson? Given the pitiful play from some of Stanford's scholarship players in recent seasons, I would have thought more walk-ons would have contributed.

[McKenwood]

Now you got me curious.  Let’s look at the bottom five non-specialist players (by 247 composite) from the 2016-2018, which I think is when we had the biggest scholarship gaps. Lots of caveats here, which you identify (like, we don’t know that the bottom of the 247 rankings was the bottom of the internal rankings) and I’m using a limited time frame, but still a useful exercise, I think.

2016: Dorian Maddox, Paxton Segina, Dylan Powell, Nate Hebrig, Malik Antoine
2017: Drew Dalman, Tucker Fisk, Stuart Head, Levani Damuni, Dalyn Wade-Pery
2018: Tae Le, Ethan Bonner, Jay Symonds, Donjae Logan, Justus Woods

So, yeah, a lot of total non-contributors, like Segina, Le, Logan, and Woods, but some guys who were back-ups like Maddox and a bona fide star, Dalman, who was our lowest ranked recruit in 2017.  In fact the bottom of that 2017 class produced not just contributors, but a number of multi-year starters.

Given the uncertainties over recruiting, I’m a big fan of taking as many shots on goal as we can, especially for positions where we historically struggle, like d-line.  I’m not polyanna enough to expect that they will all be Dalman’s or even Damuni’s, but if maybe 1 in 10 is a hidden star, 1 in 5 can be a starter, and 1/2 can be marginally better contributor than the person we had to trot out in their stead, then that’s a case for filling the class.

BC

Good discussion here. This shortfall in filling scholarships was one of several indicators that Shaw was not on top of his job after the Iowa Rose bowl. Not only were scholarships not filled but certain positions groups were neglected, especially the lines and QB.

Given the time necessary for Stanford to physically develop offensive and defensive linemen these extra scholarships should have been devoted to these position groups. The 2019 - 2021 seasons might have been different with players similar to Dalman, Herbig, Fisk and Powell filling those slots.

One other area that Stanford has fallen down in recent years is the quality of their walk-ons. In the Harbaugh/early Shaw years some really good players (future pros) ended up as scholarship players. If you have a productive walk-on program then maybe you leave a scholarship or two open as a reward for walk-ons who become starters. Treymane has been a recent success story but who else? Spencer Jorgenson? Caleb Robinson? Given the pitiful play from some of Stanford's scholarship players in recent seasons, I would have thought more walk-ons would have contributed.