[BostonCard]

Here were the 2011 academic seniors with eligibility left, and what happened to them:
Jonathan Martin: drafted to the NFL
Sam Schwartztein: returned for a fifth year
David DeCastro: drafted to the NFL
Andrew Luck: drafted to the NFL
Alex Debniak: returned for a fifth year
Chase Thomas: returned for a fifth year
Daniel Zychlinski: returned for a fifth year

So, a big part of the reason that we only had four redshirt seniors in 2012 is that we only had seven seniors with eligibility remaining in 2011.  And of those seven, the three that did not come back were drafted (Andrew Luck and David DeCastro in the first round, Jonathan Martin in the second).  I don't think anyone begrudges those three going to the NFL with eligibility left, given where they were drafted.  And of the four players who were not first or second round NFL picks, all four returned for their fifth year.

This year, we have ten seniors with eligibility remaining.  Only one of them is projected to be drafted by the NFL, probably in the mid rounds.  Of the remaining players, we know of several who would probably be offered a fifth year, but have declined, and there are several more rumored to be leaving but who have not yet announced.

It used to be rare for guys who weren't draftable but were still potential starters or significant contributors to elect not to come back.  Now, it is routine.  And it used to be that the bedrock of Stanford football was juniors, seniors, and fifth year seniors.  Going forward, it will probably be juniors and redshirt juniors, and I think that is a problem.

BC

[BostonCard]

Here were the 2011 academic seniors with eligibility left, and what happened to them:
Jonathan Martin: drafted to the NFL
Sam Schwartztein: returned for a fifth year
David DeCastro: drafted to the NFL
Andrew Luck: drafted to the NFL
Alex Debniak: returned for a fifth year
Chase Thomas: returned for a fifth year
Daniel Zychlinski: returned for a fifth year

So, a big part of the reason that we only had four redshirt seniors in 2012 is that we only had seven seniors with eligibility remaining in 2011.  And of those seven, the three that did not come back were drafted (Andrew Luck and David DeCastro in the first round, Jonathan Martin in the second).  I don't think anyone begrudges those three going to the NFL with eligibility left, given where they were drafted.  And of the four players who were not first or second round NFL picks, all four returned for their fifth year.

This year, we have ten seniors with eligibility remaining.  Only one of them is projected to be drafted by the NFL, probably in the mid rounds.  Of the remaining players, we know of several who would probably be offered a fifth year, but have declined, and there are several more rumored to be leaving but who have not yet announced.

It used to be rare for guys who weren't draftable but were still potential starters or significant contributors to elect not to come back.  Now, it is routine.  And it used to be that the bedrock of Stanford football was juniors, seniors, and fifth year seniors.  Going forward, it will probably be juniors and redshirt juniors, and I think that is a problem.

BC