[OutsiderFan]

And while we are talking about this, most graduate programs make their admissions decisions in April.  I know there are early decisions for undergraduate admissions for athletes, but is there any such thing for graduate programs?  Wouldn't a prudent student-athlete want to keep all the options open until they know where they are admitted for graduate school?

I think this is the crux of it. While some guys may be content with just taking more undergraduate classes, others may really want a graduate degree. If you don't know you will be admitted, it is stupid not to have a "plan B". In some cases, the student may want an MBA or JD from a University in the area of the country they want to live. That may not be Northern California. Consider Terrence Alexander. Those guys are probably gone unless they don't get into their target school. It is certainly better to keep your options open as long as possible.

This line of thinking makes sense.  I have to wonder if the relaxed transfer and redshirt rules happened with so little warning, that Stanford was caught flat-footed.

Consider it wasn't too long ago that Stanford's smaller recruiting classes were seen as an advantage because there was little attrition and that meant ending up with more experienced, ostensibly bigger and stronger players on the field.  Now you throw in the grad transfer rule and new redshirt rules, and Stanford has a roster full of guys it recruited under one paradigm that are leaving earlier than expected which forced guys who weren't really expected to be playing to play faster, maybe when not ready.  It will take a few classes to balance the new paradigm out in terms of roster construction, player development, offensive and defensive schemes.

You always hear broadcasters say "This is a young roster, with 48 Freshmen and Sophomores."  Well, that's how it is going to be for most programs.  True Frosh are playing more because of the 4-game redshirt rule.  And with more guys having grad transfer options and leaving football early because of injury concerns or second NFL contract concerns, college rosters have gotten younger and younger across the board.

It all means the days of 12 or 14 signee classes are over for Stanford. That's probably a good thing because it will force more aggressive recruiting with more offers.

[OutsiderFan]

And while we are talking about this, most graduate programs make their admissions decisions in April.  I know there are early decisions for undergraduate admissions for athletes, but is there any such thing for graduate programs?  Wouldn't a prudent student-athlete want to keep all the options open until they know where they are admitted for graduate school?

I think this is the crux of it. While some guys may be content with just taking more undergraduate classes, others may really want a graduate degree. If you don't know you will be admitted, it is stupid not to have a "plan B". In some cases, the student may want an MBA or JD from a University in the area of the country they want to live. That may not be Northern California. Consider Terrence Alexander. Those guys are probably gone unless they don't get into their target school. It is certainly better to keep your options open as long as possible.

This line of thinking makes sense.  I have to wonder if the relaxed transfer and redshirt rules happened with so little warning, that Stanford was caught flat-footed.

Consider it wasn't too long ago that Stanford's smaller recruiting classes were seen as an advantage because there was little attrition and that meant ending up with more experienced, ostensibly bigger and stronger players on the field.  Now you throw in the grad transfer rule and new redshirt rules, and Stanford has a roster full of guys it recruited under one paradigm that are leaving earlier than expected which forced guys who weren't really expected to be playing to play faster, maybe when not ready.  It will take a few classes to balance the new paradigm out in terms of roster construction, player development, offensive and defensive schemes.

You always hear broadcasters say "This is a young roster, with 48 Freshmen and Sophomores."  Well, that's how it is going to be for most programs.  True Frosh are playing more because of the 4-game redshirt rule.  And with more guys having grad transfer options and leaving football early because of injury concerns or second NFL contract concerns, college rosters have gotten younger and younger across the board.

It all means the days of 12 or 14 signee classes are over for Stanford. That's probably a good thing because it will force more aggressive recruiting with more offers.