From 2010-2019, Stanford averaged about 2 scholarship recruits (not including specialists) per class who were outside the top 1000 recruits in the 247composite. There were never more than 3 in a class. I’m no longer sure who was a scholarship recruit in 2020 or 2021 because 247sports has taken to adding walk-on recruits to the team lists, but suffice to say that the bottom in recent years has been larger than it was last decade.
I also agree that the very top is smaller.
Take a smaller top group and a bigger bottom group, and suddenly the talent pool looks less elite. That is not to say Stanford can’t win games. There is plenty of talent to win some games and get to a decent bowl. I just don’t think the current roster feels like the 2015 roster, for example. It’ll take a bit of a turnaround to get back to that level. And note that, even on that very-talented team, a number of quality starters had been sub-1000 recruits on 247sports. That includes Caspers, Rector, and Marx. So hopefully some of the guys who are similarly rated in the recent classes will turn out just as well.
I also agree that the very top is smaller.
Take a smaller top group and a bigger bottom group, and suddenly the talent pool looks less elite. That is not to say Stanford can’t win games. There is plenty of talent to win some games and get to a decent bowl. I just don’t think the current roster feels like the 2015 roster, for example. It’ll take a bit of a turnaround to get back to that level. And note that, even on that very-talented team, a number of quality starters had been sub-1000 recruits on 247sports. That includes Caspers, Rector, and Marx. So hopefully some of the guys who are similarly rated in the recent classes will turn out just as well.
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