[donkey687]

I believe declaring for the draft in many cases is simply I’m graduating and what’s next.  Whatever is next each player is excited for the outcome.

Yes, but there does seem to have been a cultural change of mindset within Stanford football. If you charted number of seniors returning for a fifth year, I think you will see a major decline in the last 4 years. Guys who weren't projected to be drafted in early rounds would come back. Now they may try their luck with making a team or retire from football rather than stay at Stanford for another year and potentially improve their draft stock or get a second degree. There probably isn't one factor to blame but my biggest theory is that the demands of college football have become greater and it is a year round grind and these guys are tired of doing it (especially for free) after four years and the poorer performance in recent years is more of a grind. It isn't fun and that permeates the culture which is why we are seeing people leave as soon as they get their degree.

Michael Wilson's decision looms large given the declarations of Wedington, Fehoko and sense that OSB is not returning.

It seems like transfers are going to become a bigger and bigger part of college football. If Stanford truly wants to remain competitive, Stanford administration will need to find a way to accommodate transfers. It will require a big change in philosophy, but it isn't impossible. Otherwise, we will only be on one side of the roster turnover that is only going to increase when the NCAA likely relaxes transfer rules in March while all other schools play both sides of the turnover.

[donkey687]

I believe declaring for the draft in many cases is simply I’m graduating and what’s next.  Whatever is next each player is excited for the outcome.

Yes, but there does seem to have been a cultural change of mindset within Stanford football. If you charted number of seniors returning for a fifth year, I think you will see a major decline in the last 4 years. Guys who weren't projected to be drafted in early rounds would come back. Now they may try their luck with making a team or retire from football rather than stay at Stanford for another year and potentially improve their draft stock or get a second degree. There probably isn't one factor to blame but my biggest theory is that the demands of college football have become greater and it is a year round grind and these guys are tired of doing it (especially for free) after four years and the poorer performance in recent years is more of a grind. It isn't fun and that permeates the culture which is why we are seeing people leave as soon as they get their degree.

Michael Wilson's decision looms large given the declarations of Wedington, Fehoko and sense that OSB is not returning.

It seems like transfers are going to become a bigger and bigger part of college football. If Stanford truly wants to remain competitive, Stanford administration will need to find a way to accommodate transfers. It will require a big change in philosophy, but it isn't impossible. Otherwise, we will only be on one side of the roster turnover that is only going to increase when the NCAA likely relaxes transfer rules in March while all other schools play both sides of the turnover.