[donkey687]

While it looks like we will have a lot more returning 5th year senior starters than this year when we only had Toohill and Scarlett, I was disappointed to see both Swann and Williams with "Last Walk" shirts on and participants in the Senior Day ceremony. It would be devastating to lose both of them given lack of depth and recruits on the DL.  Costello and Pryts are the other redshirt Senior starters who walked on Senior Day.

The good news is that a whole bunch of Seniors did not walk including past starters Hamilton, Hattis, Antoine, Parson, Jordan Fox, Eboh, Toner plus reserves Speights, Butler and Peek. 

One name that I was wondering about is Dylan Powell as I expected him to walk, but it turns out he isn't even on the roster and is in the transfer portal and recently visited Indiana. Not sure what happened there because if he was healthy, he could have been valuable to us.

[donkey687]

While it looks like we will have a lot more returning 5th year senior starters than this year when we only had Toohill and Scarlett, I was disappointed to see both Swann and Williams with "Last Walk" shirts on and participants in the Senior Day ceremony. It would be devastating to lose both of them given lack of depth and recruits on the DL.  Costello and Pryts are the other redshirt Senior starters who walked on Senior Day.

The good news is that a whole bunch of Seniors did not walk including past starters Hamilton, Hattis, Antoine, Parson, Jordan Fox, Eboh, Toner plus reserves Speights, Butler and Peek. 

One name that I was wondering about is Dylan Powell as I expected him to walk, but it turns out he isn't even on the roster and is in the transfer portal and recently visited Indiana. Not sure what happened there because if he was healthy, he could have been valuable to us.

[Phogge]

Bobbbb and I are seniors but we will play for pay. I can still toss it 50.

[Phogge]

Bobbbb and I are seniors but we will play for pay. I can still toss it 50.

[OutsiderFan]

DL in 2020 if Williams and Swann leave?

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Peek - Phillips
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

It seems Phillips will play as a True Frosh if Williams and Swann leave with a year of eligibility remaining.

[OutsiderFan]

DL in 2020 if Williams and Swann leave?

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Peek - Phillips
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

It seems Phillips will play as a True Frosh if Williams and Swann leave with a year of eligibility remaining.

[BobK]

Powell wasn’t healthy this year and had an operation which ended his season and Stanford career. Sad ending

[BobK]

Powell wasn’t healthy this year and had an operation which ended his season and Stanford career. Sad ending

[slide]

DL in 2020 if Williams and Swann leave?

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Peek - Phillips
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

It seems Phillips will play as a True Frosh if Williams and Swann leave with a year of eligibility remaining.

under that scenario, depth chart is more likely to be:

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Booker - Phillips - Peek
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

[slide]

DL in 2020 if Williams and Swann leave?

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Peek - Phillips
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

It seems Phillips will play as a True Frosh if Williams and Swann leave with a year of eligibility remaining.

under that scenario, depth chart is more likely to be:

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Booker - Phillips - Peek
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

[cardcrimson]

Granted I know very little about what seniors look for in completing a fifth year, or the general recruiting process for that matter, I would think important criteria in the decision making process would be the coaching and training staffs. Wouldn't it be helpful for Shaw to solidify that as quickly as possible so returning seniors and potential recruits would know with whom they would be working? If it's the status quo, so be it. But uncertainly may negatively influence the decision making process.

[cardcrimson]

Granted I know very little about what seniors look for in completing a fifth year, or the general recruiting process for that matter, I would think important criteria in the decision making process would be the coaching and training staffs. Wouldn't it be helpful for Shaw to solidify that as quickly as possible so returning seniors and potential recruits would know with whom they would be working? If it's the status quo, so be it. But uncertainly may negatively influence the decision making process.

[Row80Critic]

DL in 2020 if Williams and Swann leave?

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Peek - Phillips
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

It seems Phillips will play as a True Frosh if Williams and Swann leave with a year of eligibility remaining.

under that scenario, depth chart is more likely to be:

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Booker - Phillips - Peek
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

Wonder what it looks like if a majority of those guys get hurt...

[Row80Critic]

DL in 2020 if Williams and Swann leave?

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Peek - Phillips
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

It seems Phillips will play as a True Frosh if Williams and Swann leave with a year of eligibility remaining.

under that scenario, depth chart is more likely to be:

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Booker - Phillips - Peek
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

Wonder what it looks like if a majority of those guys get hurt...

[qwerty49]

DL in 2020 if Williams and Swann leave?

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Peek - Phillips
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

It seems Phillips will play as a True Frosh if Williams and Swann leave with a year of eligibility remaining.

under that scenario, depth chart is more likely to be:

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Booker - Phillips - Peek
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

Wonder what it looks like if a majority of those guys get hurt...

Has Peek EVER been healthy at Stanford?

[qwerty49]

DL in 2020 if Williams and Swann leave?

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Peek - Phillips
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

It seems Phillips will play as a True Frosh if Williams and Swann leave with a year of eligibility remaining.

under that scenario, depth chart is more likely to be:

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Booker - Phillips - Peek
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

Wonder what it looks like if a majority of those guys get hurt...

Has Peek EVER been healthy at Stanford?

[ChicagoCard]

That about Thomas Schaffer who was in the same class as Swann, Williams and Peek?

[ChicagoCard]

That about Thomas Schaffer who was in the same class as Swann, Williams and Peek?

[BostonCard]

That about Thomas Schaffer who was in the same class as Swann, Williams and Peek?

For what it is worth, Thomas was introduced on Saturday.

Note that just because someone walks or is introduced with the seniors, doesn't mean they won't come back. All academic seniors are eligible to walk, and some who have not made up their minds chose to do just in case; others want to walk with their graduating classmates. Likewise, juniors aren't allowed to be introduced for senior day; some may or not come back.

We should find out more in the next couple months.

BC

[BostonCard]

That about Thomas Schaffer who was in the same class as Swann, Williams and Peek?

For what it is worth, Thomas was introduced on Saturday.

Note that just because someone walks or is introduced with the seniors, doesn't mean they won't come back. All academic seniors are eligible to walk, and some who have not made up their minds chose to do just in case; others want to walk with their graduating classmates. Likewise, juniors aren't allowed to be introduced for senior day; some may or not come back.

We should find out more in the next couple months.

BC

[Langdude]

DL in 2020 if Williams and Swann leave?

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Peek - Phillips
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

It seems Phillips will play as a True Frosh if Williams and Swann leave with a year of eligibility remaining.

under that scenario, depth chart is more likely to be:

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Booker - Phillips - Peek
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

I think that Booker and DWP are solid. Ryan Johnson has been a healthy scratch in several games, so it could be Pakola, at least to start the season.

-m.

[Langdude]

DL in 2020 if Williams and Swann leave?

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Peek - Phillips
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

It seems Phillips will play as a True Frosh if Williams and Swann leave with a year of eligibility remaining.

under that scenario, depth chart is more likely to be:

DE - Booker - Pakola - Phillips
DT/NT - DWP - Booker - Phillips - Peek
DE - Johnson - Boles - Phillips

I think that Booker and DWP are solid. Ryan Johnson has been a healthy scratch in several games, so it could be Pakola, at least to start the season.

-m.

[OutsiderFan]

It would be quite shocking to have all three DL with a year of eligibility remaining leave the program. It could happen, but that's not what coaches are assume when they are developing their recruiting priorities.

So as much as I decry the failure to recruit more DL annually, even I know the last couple years of recruiting classes were executed on the assumption at least a couple of Williams, Swann, and Schaffer would play all four years they had eligibility.

[OutsiderFan]

It would be quite shocking to have all three DL with a year of eligibility remaining leave the program. It could happen, but that's not what coaches are assume when they are developing their recruiting priorities.

So as much as I decry the failure to recruit more DL annually, even I know the last couple years of recruiting classes were executed on the assumption at least a couple of Williams, Swann, and Schaffer would play all four years they had eligibility.

[Langdude]

It would be quite shocking to have all three DL with a year of eligibility remaining leave the program. It could happen, but that's not what coaches are assume when they are developing their recruiting priorities.

So as much as I decry the failure to recruit more DL annually, even I know the last couple years of recruiting classes were executed on the assumption at least a couple of Williams, Swann, and Schaffer would play all four years they had eligibility.

Totally agree. Stanford has recruited over the last 20 years thinking that the majority of recruits will be around five years. I think the ease of fifth-year transferring has complicated the Stanford system, as has the readiness of contributing players to retire with eligibility remaining; I wonder about the reasons for the latter, but I think that 1) the increasing concern over brain trauma, and 2) the large starting salaries in various jobs are contributing factors. I do also wonder if any instability in the coaching staff has contributed.

Having said that, I do think and hope Swann will return, and am somewhat less sure about Schaffer. Who knows re: Williams.

-m.

[Langdude]

It would be quite shocking to have all three DL with a year of eligibility remaining leave the program. It could happen, but that's not what coaches are assume when they are developing their recruiting priorities.

So as much as I decry the failure to recruit more DL annually, even I know the last couple years of recruiting classes were executed on the assumption at least a couple of Williams, Swann, and Schaffer would play all four years they had eligibility.

Totally agree. Stanford has recruited over the last 20 years thinking that the majority of recruits will be around five years. I think the ease of fifth-year transferring has complicated the Stanford system, as has the readiness of contributing players to retire with eligibility remaining; I wonder about the reasons for the latter, but I think that 1) the increasing concern over brain trauma, and 2) the large starting salaries in various jobs are contributing factors. I do also wonder if any instability in the coaching staff has contributed.

Having said that, I do think and hope Swann will return, and am somewhat less sure about Schaffer. Who knows re: Williams.

-m.

[cardcrimson]

Totally agree. Stanford has recruited over the last 20 years thinking that the majority of recruits will be around five years.

Interesting point. I bet OSU, LSU, Clemson, and Alabama recruit as if the majority will be around less than four years. Either they go pro or they go away. . . .

[cardcrimson]

Totally agree. Stanford has recruited over the last 20 years thinking that the majority of recruits will be around five years.

Interesting point. I bet OSU, LSU, Clemson, and Alabama recruit as if the majority will be around less than four years. Either they go pro or they go away. . . .

[SamuelMcF]

Totally agree. Stanford has recruited over the last 20 years thinking that the majority of recruits will be around five years.

Interesting point. I bet OSU, LSU, Clemson, and Alabama recruit as if the majority will be around less than four years. Either they go pro or they go away. . . .

That's why they call them "football factories." They recruit classes of 20+ every single season for a reason. If you're good enough, you're gone as a junior. If you're not good enough, a 5* freshman who IS good enough will immediately replace you, and sayonara...enjoy the rest of your career at Illinois or Rutgers!

[SamuelMcF]

Totally agree. Stanford has recruited over the last 20 years thinking that the majority of recruits will be around five years.

Interesting point. I bet OSU, LSU, Clemson, and Alabama recruit as if the majority will be around less than four years. Either they go pro or they go away. . . .

That's why they call them "football factories." They recruit classes of 20+ every single season for a reason. If you're good enough, you're gone as a junior. If you're not good enough, a 5* freshman who IS good enough will immediately replace you, and sayonara...enjoy the rest of your career at Illinois or Rutgers!

[cardcrimson]

Totally agree. Stanford has recruited over the last 20 years thinking that the majority of recruits will be around five years.

Interesting point. I bet OSU, LSU, Clemson, and Alabama recruit as if the majority will be around less than four years. Either they go pro or they go away. . . .

That's why they call them "football factories." They recruit classes of 20+ every single season for a reason. If you're good enough, you're gone as a junior. If you're not good enough, a 5* freshman who IS good enough will immediately replace you, and sayonara...enjoy the rest of your career at Illinois or Rutgers!

Yep, just like Jalen Hurts. Look for him in NYC in a week or so. . . .

[cardcrimson]

Totally agree. Stanford has recruited over the last 20 years thinking that the majority of recruits will be around five years.

Interesting point. I bet OSU, LSU, Clemson, and Alabama recruit as if the majority will be around less than four years. Either they go pro or they go away. . . .

That's why they call them "football factories." They recruit classes of 20+ every single season for a reason. If you're good enough, you're gone as a junior. If you're not good enough, a 5* freshman who IS good enough will immediately replace you, and sayonara...enjoy the rest of your career at Illinois or Rutgers!

Yep, just like Jalen Hurts. Look for him in NYC in a week or so. . . .

[BostonCard]

Totally agree. Stanford has recruited over the last 20 years thinking that the majority of recruits will be around five years.

Interesting point. I bet OSU, LSU, Clemson, and Alabama recruit as if the majority will be around less than four years. Either they go pro or they go away. . . .

That's why they call them "football factories." They recruit classes of 20+ every single season for a reason. If you're good enough, you're gone as a junior. If you're not good enough, a 5* freshman who IS good enough will immediately replace you, and sayonara...enjoy the rest of your career at Illinois or Rutgers!

Yep, just like Jalen Hurts. Look for him in NYC in a week or so. . . .

You can only start one QB, and it's not like Tuavaloa was chopped liver.  You could also point to Joe Burrow, but again, it's not like Justin Fields was a disaster (or Dwayne Haskins last year).

BC

[BostonCard]

Totally agree. Stanford has recruited over the last 20 years thinking that the majority of recruits will be around five years.

Interesting point. I bet OSU, LSU, Clemson, and Alabama recruit as if the majority will be around less than four years. Either they go pro or they go away. . . .

That's why they call them "football factories." They recruit classes of 20+ every single season for a reason. If you're good enough, you're gone as a junior. If you're not good enough, a 5* freshman who IS good enough will immediately replace you, and sayonara...enjoy the rest of your career at Illinois or Rutgers!

Yep, just like Jalen Hurts. Look for him in NYC in a week or so. . . .

You can only start one QB, and it's not like Tuavaloa was chopped liver.  You could also point to Joe Burrow, but again, it's not like Justin Fields was a disaster (or Dwayne Haskins last year).

BC

[Spiny_Norman]

All of the following left the Stanford program after last season with eligibility remaining -
Reagan Williams
Frank Buncom
JJ Arcega-Whiteside
Sean Barton
Nick Wilson
Brian Chaffin
Dylan Jackson

Only three chose to return for a 5th year - Beecher, Toohill, Scarlett. In the past, Stanford has had more often 6 to 10 5th years.

Was this a blip or the start of a troubling trend? Shaw relies on 5th year seniors for experience and leadership. He may have to change his approach drastically if it becomes SOP to lose most of the senior class every year (and a few juniors too).

[Spiny_Norman]

All of the following left the Stanford program after last season with eligibility remaining -
Reagan Williams
Frank Buncom
JJ Arcega-Whiteside
Sean Barton
Nick Wilson
Brian Chaffin
Dylan Jackson

Only three chose to return for a 5th year - Beecher, Toohill, Scarlett. In the past, Stanford has had more often 6 to 10 5th years.

Was this a blip or the start of a troubling trend? Shaw relies on 5th year seniors for experience and leadership. He may have to change his approach drastically if it becomes SOP to lose most of the senior class every year (and a few juniors too).

[donkey687]

All of the following left the Stanford program after last season with eligibility remaining -
Reagan Williams
Frank Buncom
JJ Arcega-Whiteside
Sean Barton
Nick Wilson
Brian Chaffin
Dylan Jackson

Only three chose to return for a 5th year - Beecher, Toohill, Scarlett. In the past, Stanford has had more often 6 to 10 5th years.

Was this a blip or the start of a troubling trend? Shaw relies on 5th year seniors for experience and leadership. He may have to change his approach drastically if it becomes SOP to lose most of the senior class every year (and a few juniors too).

Add in Ben Edwards who could have gotten a redshirt for last year and you have 4 defensive starters opting to not return.  If those guys return, I think we beat Cal and Colorado and go bowling.  Barton especially would have been big impact. I don't remember a single starter opting to retire from football with eligibility remaining much less four in one year. Unexpectedly losing those guys really changed the outlook for our season. On offense, Wilson and Chaffin likely would have started on the OL after the injuries.  Chaffin at least didn't retire and grad transferred.

[donkey687]

All of the following left the Stanford program after last season with eligibility remaining -
Reagan Williams
Frank Buncom
JJ Arcega-Whiteside
Sean Barton
Nick Wilson
Brian Chaffin
Dylan Jackson

Only three chose to return for a 5th year - Beecher, Toohill, Scarlett. In the past, Stanford has had more often 6 to 10 5th years.

Was this a blip or the start of a troubling trend? Shaw relies on 5th year seniors for experience and leadership. He may have to change his approach drastically if it becomes SOP to lose most of the senior class every year (and a few juniors too).

Add in Ben Edwards who could have gotten a redshirt for last year and you have 4 defensive starters opting to not return.  If those guys return, I think we beat Cal and Colorado and go bowling.  Barton especially would have been big impact. I don't remember a single starter opting to retire from football with eligibility remaining much less four in one year. Unexpectedly losing those guys really changed the outlook for our season. On offense, Wilson and Chaffin likely would have started on the OL after the injuries.  Chaffin at least didn't retire and grad transferred.

[SamuelMcF]

All of the following left the Stanford program after last season with eligibility remaining -
Reagan Williams
Frank Buncom
JJ Arcega-Whiteside
Sean Barton
Nick Wilson
Brian Chaffin
Dylan Jackson

Only three chose to return for a 5th year - Beecher, Toohill, Scarlett. In the past, Stanford has had more often 6 to 10 5th years.

Was this a blip or the start of a troubling trend? Shaw relies on 5th year seniors for experience and leadership. He may have to change his approach drastically if it becomes SOP to lose most of the senior class every year (and a few juniors too).

Add in Ben Edwards who could have gotten a redshirt for last year and you have 4 defensive starters opting to not return.  If those guys return, I think we beat Cal and Colorado and go bowling.  Barton especially would have been big impact. I don't remember a single starter opting to retire from football with eligibility remaining much less four in one year. Unexpectedly losing those guys really changed the outlook for our season. On offense, Wilson and Chaffin likely would have started on the OL after the injuries.  Chaffin at least didn't retire and grad transferred.

Buncom and Edwards both for medical reasons, FWIW. Not "opting not to return." They had no choice.

When the much younger Drew Dalman beat out Chaffin for the backup C spot (AND Wilson for a backup G spot when Jesse Burkett was healthy) last year, that was the nail in the coffin. Don't blame them for moving on.

Barton, a 25-year-old 5th year senior? I guess we've seen LDS 5th years before, but I kinda don't blame him for moving on either.

Jackson still somewhat of a head scratcher, but a major leg injury before our bowl game last season couldn't have helped.

Shaw never used Reagan Williams as much as I wished he had. We also stopped running as much power (and basically abandoned it this year). Not sure how much Bloom used him at Rice this season, but in the game I watched he did come in for a few plays and brutalize LBs as he always did.

Interestingly, because there are so few 5th years on the team, we actually NEED more attrition this year in order to accommodate what should be another 20+ man freshman class.

[SamuelMcF]

All of the following left the Stanford program after last season with eligibility remaining -
Reagan Williams
Frank Buncom
JJ Arcega-Whiteside
Sean Barton
Nick Wilson
Brian Chaffin
Dylan Jackson

Only three chose to return for a 5th year - Beecher, Toohill, Scarlett. In the past, Stanford has had more often 6 to 10 5th years.

Was this a blip or the start of a troubling trend? Shaw relies on 5th year seniors for experience and leadership. He may have to change his approach drastically if it becomes SOP to lose most of the senior class every year (and a few juniors too).

Add in Ben Edwards who could have gotten a redshirt for last year and you have 4 defensive starters opting to not return.  If those guys return, I think we beat Cal and Colorado and go bowling.  Barton especially would have been big impact. I don't remember a single starter opting to retire from football with eligibility remaining much less four in one year. Unexpectedly losing those guys really changed the outlook for our season. On offense, Wilson and Chaffin likely would have started on the OL after the injuries.  Chaffin at least didn't retire and grad transferred.

Buncom and Edwards both for medical reasons, FWIW. Not "opting not to return." They had no choice.

When the much younger Drew Dalman beat out Chaffin for the backup C spot (AND Wilson for a backup G spot when Jesse Burkett was healthy) last year, that was the nail in the coffin. Don't blame them for moving on.

Barton, a 25-year-old 5th year senior? I guess we've seen LDS 5th years before, but I kinda don't blame him for moving on either.

Jackson still somewhat of a head scratcher, but a major leg injury before our bowl game last season couldn't have helped.

Shaw never used Reagan Williams as much as I wished he had. We also stopped running as much power (and basically abandoned it this year). Not sure how much Bloom used him at Rice this season, but in the game I watched he did come in for a few plays and brutalize LBs as he always did.

Interestingly, because there are so few 5th years on the team, we actually NEED more attrition this year in order to accommodate what should be another 20+ man freshman class.