[terry]

Here's how the statistically most-productive receivers in Stanford history fared as true freshmen:

Troy Walters 1996-99: 32 receptions for 444 yards, 3 TDs
DeRonnie Pitts 1997-00: 13 for 195, 1
Ken Margerum 1977-80: 3 for 64, 0
Mark Bradford 2003-07: 37 for 587, 3
Brian Manning 1993-96: 17 for 382 , 4
Ed McCaffrey 1986-87, 89-90: 4 for 31, 0
Jeff James 1984-87: 18 for 312, 2
Emile Harry 1981-84: 10 for 196, 0
Ty Montgomery didn't quite crack the top 10 in receiving yards, but his freshman receiving numbers were 24 receptions, 350 yds, 2 TDs

Walters, Pitts, and James redshirted, as noted elsewhere in this thread. So they weren't true freshmen.

Other notable performances by true freshman WRs:

Richard Sherman, 2006:  34 for 581, 3 TDs
Doug Baldwin, 2008:      23 for 332, 4 TDs

[terry]

Here's how the statistically most-productive receivers in Stanford history fared as true freshmen:

Troy Walters 1996-99: 32 receptions for 444 yards, 3 TDs
DeRonnie Pitts 1997-00: 13 for 195, 1
Ken Margerum 1977-80: 3 for 64, 0
Mark Bradford 2003-07: 37 for 587, 3
Brian Manning 1993-96: 17 for 382 , 4
Ed McCaffrey 1986-87, 89-90: 4 for 31, 0
Jeff James 1984-87: 18 for 312, 2
Emile Harry 1981-84: 10 for 196, 0
Ty Montgomery didn't quite crack the top 10 in receiving yards, but his freshman receiving numbers were 24 receptions, 350 yds, 2 TDs

Walters, Pitts, and James redshirted, as noted elsewhere in this thread. So they weren't true freshmen.

Other notable performances by true freshman WRs:

Richard Sherman, 2006:  34 for 581, 3 TDs
Doug Baldwin, 2008:      23 for 332, 4 TDs

[Stymie]

Does anyone besides me think that Irwin reminds them of Kenny Margerum?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJCZGc1ZaSw

Good to see again Elway and Margerum making a fool of Ronnie Lott at the end of the clip.  "Nice" unnecessary push by Ronnie after he's been stuffed, with Kennie bounding up off the ground.

[Stymie]

Does anyone besides me think that Irwin reminds them of Kenny Margerum?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJCZGc1ZaSw

Good to see again Elway and Margerum making a fool of Ronnie Lott at the end of the clip.  "Nice" unnecessary push by Ronnie after he's been stuffed, with Kennie bounding up off the ground.

[Papa John]

I can't find any stats at all for James Loften's freshman year.  At first I thought he must have been before they allowed freshman to play, but the rule changed in 1972 and he graduated in 1977.  I noticed that his sophomore and junior years were not terrific, though.  One would hardly have known what he was going to be like in 1977 once he had Bill Walsh as coach.  But another late blooming, great WR.

As you noted, Lofton had no stats in 1974, and in 1975, he had 3 receptions for 74 yards, 0 TD. He was a bit before my time (my freshman year was 1980), but I seem to recall hearing that he didn't even play WR in high school and was more of a track athlete than anything else. A late bloomer, indeed!

[Papa John]

I can't find any stats at all for James Loften's freshman year.  At first I thought he must have been before they allowed freshman to play, but the rule changed in 1972 and he graduated in 1977.  I noticed that his sophomore and junior years were not terrific, though.  One would hardly have known what he was going to be like in 1977 once he had Bill Walsh as coach.  But another late blooming, great WR.

As you noted, Lofton had no stats in 1974, and in 1975, he had 3 receptions for 74 yards, 0 TD. He was a bit before my time (my freshman year was 1980), but I seem to recall hearing that he didn't even play WR in high school and was more of a track athlete than anything else. A late bloomer, indeed!

[82lsju]

some info on James Lofton's High School career

http://www.calhisports.com/2012/11/15/ho...-inspires/

[82lsju]

some info on James Lofton's High School career

http://www.calhisports.com/2012/11/15/ho...-inspires/

[OutsiderFan]

Margerum's first year:  3 catches for 64 yds, 0 TDs
Lofton's first year:  3 catches for 74 yds, 0 TDs

[OutsiderFan]

Margerum's first year:  3 catches for 64 yds, 0 TDs
Lofton's first year:  3 catches for 74 yds, 0 TDs

[terry]

Stanford's top freshmen in receiving yards (includes both redshirt freshmen and true freshmen):

                              YR    YEAR   NO YDS AVG  TD
Dave Davis              R-Fr.  1998   48 707 14.7 6
Teyo Johnson*          R-Fr.  2001   44 610 13.9 8
Darrin Nelson*          Fr.    1977   56 601 10.7 4
Mark Bradford          Fr.    2003   37 587 15.9 3
Richard Sherman      Fr.      2006   34 581 17.1 3
Luke Powell              R-Fr.  2000   18 502 27.9 3
Chris Walsh              R-Fr.  1988   41 480 11.7 1
Troy Walters*          R-Fr.  1996   33 453 13.7 3
Michael Rector          R-Fr.  2013   14 431 30.8 3
Brian Manning          Fr.      1993   17 382 22.5 4
Ty Montgomery        Fr.      2011   24 350 14.6 2
Vincent White          Fr.      1979   27 341 12.6 3
Doug Baldwin          Fr.      2008   23 332 14.4 4
Mike Dotterer          Fr.      1979   35 316 9.0    4
Jeff James              R-Fr.  1984   18 312 17.3 3

* Stanford's records now include bowl games, so these stats differ from the orginally published stats.

[terry]

Stanford's top freshmen in receiving yards (includes both redshirt freshmen and true freshmen):

                              YR    YEAR   NO YDS AVG  TD
Dave Davis              R-Fr.  1998   48 707 14.7 6
Teyo Johnson*          R-Fr.  2001   44 610 13.9 8
Darrin Nelson*          Fr.    1977   56 601 10.7 4
Mark Bradford          Fr.    2003   37 587 15.9 3
Richard Sherman      Fr.      2006   34 581 17.1 3
Luke Powell              R-Fr.  2000   18 502 27.9 3
Chris Walsh              R-Fr.  1988   41 480 11.7 1
Troy Walters*          R-Fr.  1996   33 453 13.7 3
Michael Rector          R-Fr.  2013   14 431 30.8 3
Brian Manning          Fr.      1993   17 382 22.5 4
Ty Montgomery        Fr.      2011   24 350 14.6 2
Vincent White          Fr.      1979   27 341 12.6 3
Doug Baldwin          Fr.      2008   23 332 14.4 4
Mike Dotterer          Fr.      1979   35 316 9.0    4
Jeff James              R-Fr.  1984   18 312 17.3 3

* Stanford's records now include bowl games, so these stats differ from the orginally published stats.

[Papa John]

Thanks, terry! So the most productive true freshman WR in Stanford history would be Mark Bradford, who was catching passes from Chris Lewis and Trent Edwards but was coached by Buddy Teevens.

It's amazing to me how many RBs from the late 1970s make that top freshmen receiving yards list: Darrin Nelson, Vincent White, Mike Dotterer. In fact, Christian McCaffrey reminds me of Darrin Nelson in a lot of ways.

So if McCaffrey=Nelson and Irwin=Margerum, the only question remaining is who will be John Elway?

[Papa John]

Thanks, terry! So the most productive true freshman WR in Stanford history would be Mark Bradford, who was catching passes from Chris Lewis and Trent Edwards but was coached by Buddy Teevens.

It's amazing to me how many RBs from the late 1970s make that top freshmen receiving yards list: Darrin Nelson, Vincent White, Mike Dotterer. In fact, Christian McCaffrey reminds me of Darrin Nelson in a lot of ways.

So if McCaffrey=Nelson and Irwin=Margerum, the only question remaining is who will be John Elway?

[CornFed]

I think this is the cue for PassionoftheChryst.

[CornFed]

I think this is the cue for PassionoftheChryst.