08-18-2018, 05:43 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-18-2018, 05:47 AM by OutsiderFan.)
OK, Stanford fans, time to make your calls on the players you expect (or guess) will have the most impact this season. I'll go first...
MVP: QB KJ Costello
Newcomer: OLB Gabe Reid
Breakout star: TE Kaden Smith
Unsung hero: DL Michael Williams
Glue player: CB Alijah Holder
I could have chosen Love as the MVP, but to me, if Stanford has a championship season this year, Costello will be the difference. Sure he has a lot of weapons around him. But he's got to make use of them for Stanford to be a championship-contending team given the brutal schedule. Stanford hasn't had anything better than slightly above mediocre QB play for two years now, and has been really close to being a 10+ win team. If they make it to 10+ wins this year, as I think they well could given the offensive talent, the QB will be the reason.
Gabe Reid seems like the most obvious guy to be the top newcomer, unless Paulson Adebo is amazing. Reid is getting rave reviews in practices and when I went back to see his highlight vids from high school, it all adds up. On his Stanford recruiting video Anderson said he was one of the best pass rushers in the country.
Kaden Smith is no secret to anyone who follows Stanford, but he has the potential to be an elite player and All-American. That's my expectation for him in 2018.
Everyone seems to lament the DL, but Stanford is getting a much better Michael Williams this season than 2017. For that run defense to improve, he will have to be steady if not spectacular. If the run D does improve as it almost has to, it wouldn't have happened without a big, if not necessarily conspicuous contribution from Williams.
My Glue player, who is a leader and just makes steady plays that put coaches at ease, is Alijah Holder because he combines the most talent and experience in the secondary. Everyone talks about Alameen Murphy and his versatility, but Holder is the type of guy the coaches can trust with 1/3 of the field, and that opens up more possibilities in terms of combo coverages and pass rush schemes.
MVP: QB KJ Costello
Newcomer: OLB Gabe Reid
Breakout star: TE Kaden Smith
Unsung hero: DL Michael Williams
Glue player: CB Alijah Holder
I could have chosen Love as the MVP, but to me, if Stanford has a championship season this year, Costello will be the difference. Sure he has a lot of weapons around him. But he's got to make use of them for Stanford to be a championship-contending team given the brutal schedule. Stanford hasn't had anything better than slightly above mediocre QB play for two years now, and has been really close to being a 10+ win team. If they make it to 10+ wins this year, as I think they well could given the offensive talent, the QB will be the reason.
Gabe Reid seems like the most obvious guy to be the top newcomer, unless Paulson Adebo is amazing. Reid is getting rave reviews in practices and when I went back to see his highlight vids from high school, it all adds up. On his Stanford recruiting video Anderson said he was one of the best pass rushers in the country.
Kaden Smith is no secret to anyone who follows Stanford, but he has the potential to be an elite player and All-American. That's my expectation for him in 2018.
Everyone seems to lament the DL, but Stanford is getting a much better Michael Williams this season than 2017. For that run defense to improve, he will have to be steady if not spectacular. If the run D does improve as it almost has to, it wouldn't have happened without a big, if not necessarily conspicuous contribution from Williams.
My Glue player, who is a leader and just makes steady plays that put coaches at ease, is Alijah Holder because he combines the most talent and experience in the secondary. Everyone talks about Alameen Murphy and his versatility, but Holder is the type of guy the coaches can trust with 1/3 of the field, and that opens up more possibilities in terms of combo coverages and pass rush schemes.