[DC 86]

[quote author=DC 86 link=topic=16707.msg226158#msg226158 date=1521385048]
But my greater concern/assumption is that the coaching staff does in fact understand the need for a QB in the class of 2019, but either hasn't found a player with the appropriate athletic/academic profile, or has identified such candidates but been unable to gain traction in recruiting them.

The reason that they might not be able to get any traction is that  said candidate looks at a situation where one guy has to go pro, one guy has to be too injured to play, one guy has to not pan out, and one guy has to need a year to get back in shape, and then maybe said candidate would see the field. While such a doomsday scenario might in fact occur, and it would be nice to have some "insurance", convincing somebody (who is actually good enough to play anywhere) to be that insurance  isn't going to be easy.
[/quote]

Except that historically Stanford has been able to recruit elite QBs even when the depth chart looks crowded. And across the country you find numerous example of quarterbacks undeterred by competition. Justin Fields committed to Georgia despite the presence of Jake Fromm, who himself committed there a year ago despite Jacob Eason starting the entire season as a true freshman. Tua Tagavailoa chose Alabama even though Jalen Hurts had just won the national championship as a true freshman and been named SEC offensive player of the year. Trevor Lawrence committed to Clemson this year to compete against the formidable trio of Kelly Bryant, Hunter Johnson and Chase Brice.

[DC 86]

[quote author=DC 86 link=topic=16707.msg226158#msg226158 date=1521385048]
But my greater concern/assumption is that the coaching staff does in fact understand the need for a QB in the class of 2019, but either hasn't found a player with the appropriate athletic/academic profile, or has identified such candidates but been unable to gain traction in recruiting them.

The reason that they might not be able to get any traction is that  said candidate looks at a situation where one guy has to go pro, one guy has to be too injured to play, one guy has to not pan out, and one guy has to need a year to get back in shape, and then maybe said candidate would see the field. While such a doomsday scenario might in fact occur, and it would be nice to have some "insurance", convincing somebody (who is actually good enough to play anywhere) to be that insurance  isn't going to be easy.
[/quote]

Except that historically Stanford has been able to recruit elite QBs even when the depth chart looks crowded. And across the country you find numerous example of quarterbacks undeterred by competition. Justin Fields committed to Georgia despite the presence of Jake Fromm, who himself committed there a year ago despite Jacob Eason starting the entire season as a true freshman. Tua Tagavailoa chose Alabama even though Jalen Hurts had just won the national championship as a true freshman and been named SEC offensive player of the year. Trevor Lawrence committed to Clemson this year to compete against the formidable trio of Kelly Bryant, Hunter Johnson and Chase Brice.