[BostonCard]

Richard Sherman was a starter on both sides of the ball at Stanford, something not many people in the modern era can claim (Owen Marecic is the only other Stanford guy I can think of off the top of my head).

From my Quora answer on Sherman:
http://www.quora.com/Richard-Sherman-NFL...__nsrc__=1

First off, Richard Sherman was not "awful" at Stanford.  In fact, he had an outstanding college career at Stanford.  He was a starter at two different positions.  In his true freshman year, he led an admittedly awful team in receiving yards.  He repeated that feat his sophomore year, the first under Jim Harbaugh.  That year, with Stanford facing fourth and 20 late in the fourth quarter against the then #2 USC Trojans, he made a drive saving catch before getting drilled, gaining exactly 20 yards.  Stanford would go on to score the go-ahead touchdown and record the "Greatest Upset Ever".  If he had accomplished nothing else in his Stanford career, he would be a legend.

After leading the team in receiving yards his first two years at Stanford, he had a falling out with head coach Jim Harbaugh, and asked to be moved to the defense.  He sat out the 2008 season with an injury, but in 2009 was named a starting cornerback.  He led the team in pass breakups and tied for the lead in interceptions in his first year playing the position in college.  Stanford had its first winning season and first bowl game that year.  The following year, he again led the team in pass breakups and was second in interceptions on a team that went to the Fiesta Bowl.  Although that team would become known for its offense led by Voldemort runner-up Andrew Luck, its defense was under-rated; it shut out three teams, was ranked #20 in total defense and #9 in scoring defense.  I don't think it is fair to say that the 2010 Stanford Secondary got "lit up".

Richard Sherman was a key part of the transformation of Stanford from a 1-11 college football embarrassment to the dominant team it has been the last four years.

No, I would not have projected Sherman to be an all-pro cornerback in the NFL on the basis of his play at Stanford, especially pre-Lynn.  Once Lynn came in and instituted more bump and run coverage (similar to what Carroll runs in Seattle), Sherman did better.  To be fair, he was never an all-Pac10/12 player at cornerback (I can't find the list of HM, but I should look that up).  But I think a lot of people undervalued his contribution to Stanford, especially to a rather good 2010 Stanford defense.  Considering that he didn't play cornerback his first two years here, I think he acquitted himself quite well.

BC

[BostonCard]

Richard Sherman was a starter on both sides of the ball at Stanford, something not many people in the modern era can claim (Owen Marecic is the only other Stanford guy I can think of off the top of my head).

From my Quora answer on Sherman:
http://www.quora.com/Richard-Sherman-NFL...__nsrc__=1

First off, Richard Sherman was not "awful" at Stanford.  In fact, he had an outstanding college career at Stanford.  He was a starter at two different positions.  In his true freshman year, he led an admittedly awful team in receiving yards.  He repeated that feat his sophomore year, the first under Jim Harbaugh.  That year, with Stanford facing fourth and 20 late in the fourth quarter against the then #2 USC Trojans, he made a drive saving catch before getting drilled, gaining exactly 20 yards.  Stanford would go on to score the go-ahead touchdown and record the "Greatest Upset Ever".  If he had accomplished nothing else in his Stanford career, he would be a legend.

After leading the team in receiving yards his first two years at Stanford, he had a falling out with head coach Jim Harbaugh, and asked to be moved to the defense.  He sat out the 2008 season with an injury, but in 2009 was named a starting cornerback.  He led the team in pass breakups and tied for the lead in interceptions in his first year playing the position in college.  Stanford had its first winning season and first bowl game that year.  The following year, he again led the team in pass breakups and was second in interceptions on a team that went to the Fiesta Bowl.  Although that team would become known for its offense led by Voldemort runner-up Andrew Luck, its defense was under-rated; it shut out three teams, was ranked #20 in total defense and #9 in scoring defense.  I don't think it is fair to say that the 2010 Stanford Secondary got "lit up".

Richard Sherman was a key part of the transformation of Stanford from a 1-11 college football embarrassment to the dominant team it has been the last four years.

No, I would not have projected Sherman to be an all-pro cornerback in the NFL on the basis of his play at Stanford, especially pre-Lynn.  Once Lynn came in and instituted more bump and run coverage (similar to what Carroll runs in Seattle), Sherman did better.  To be fair, he was never an all-Pac10/12 player at cornerback (I can't find the list of HM, but I should look that up).  But I think a lot of people undervalued his contribution to Stanford, especially to a rather good 2010 Stanford defense.  Considering that he didn't play cornerback his first two years here, I think he acquitted himself quite well.

BC