[Goose]

I'm not surprised at all. This is a rational decision by a rational human being. After two years as the starter at Stanford, Daniels observed that he has plateaued at a level that will never get him to the NFL (or to a bowl game). Maybe the OL and running game will improve to make his job easier, thanks to speculative inbound transfers, but wouldn't he rather choose a new environment where both of these factors are already in place and therefore more in his control? Wouldn't he at least try a new environment where he might flourish due to any combination of coaching and the surrounding cast? We fans are making the same observation but in reverse - why not try a new QB at this point? Maybe it's Ashton's fault, maybe it's not, but we've put two years into the experiment now.

Also note several additional factors: 
1) he is graduating early and leaving as a grad transfer, so he's not trading off a Stanford degree; 
2) he still has his redshirt, so he could spend his first year in a new system as a backup and still have another bite at the apple the following year; 
3) as you say, Stanford might overrecruit him with an inbound transfer or underclassman;
4) other programs will likely have more money for him than Stanford, which is likely to offer its money to other inbound transfers; 
5) he may still be able to return to Stanford after testing the waters, although it seems very unlikely and would be a worst-case scenario for him. 

The worst of all worlds for him would be to become the new Justin Lamson, sticking around to burn his eligibility on a limited role when he could have entered a better situation.

Daniels may have done us a favor by making the first move so that Luck, Taylor, and Admissions have no illusions or fallback plans related to our QB situation for next season. I think the right thing happened here for all parties. 

Best of luck to Ashton! I have enjoyed watching his incredible grit, toughness, and athleticism!

Strongly agree with all of the above. Most importantly, he will get his degree. That was at least one of his goals, and he has accomplished it. Daniels may not have been interested in a graduate program at Stanford. Artificially not graduating and remaining another year (or doing some kind of post-bac program) may not have appealed to him either. If he can get some program to pay for at least one (and maybe two if he takes the redshirt year) years of graduate school, that is arguably a much better outcome for him. That would be true even if he was a "Justin Lamson" somewhere else. IMO he isn't ever going to be NFL material. He may not agree with that assessment, which makes going elsewhere even more attractive. The "worst case" is still a good deal for him.

[Goose]

I'm not surprised at all. This is a rational decision by a rational human being. After two years as the starter at Stanford, Daniels observed that he has plateaued at a level that will never get him to the NFL (or to a bowl game). Maybe the OL and running game will improve to make his job easier, thanks to speculative inbound transfers, but wouldn't he rather choose a new environment where both of these factors are already in place and therefore more in his control? Wouldn't he at least try a new environment where he might flourish due to any combination of coaching and the surrounding cast? We fans are making the same observation but in reverse - why not try a new QB at this point? Maybe it's Ashton's fault, maybe it's not, but we've put two years into the experiment now.

Also note several additional factors: 
1) he is graduating early and leaving as a grad transfer, so he's not trading off a Stanford degree; 
2) he still has his redshirt, so he could spend his first year in a new system as a backup and still have another bite at the apple the following year; 
3) as you say, Stanford might overrecruit him with an inbound transfer or underclassman;
4) other programs will likely have more money for him than Stanford, which is likely to offer its money to other inbound transfers; 
5) he may still be able to return to Stanford after testing the waters, although it seems very unlikely and would be a worst-case scenario for him. 

The worst of all worlds for him would be to become the new Justin Lamson, sticking around to burn his eligibility on a limited role when he could have entered a better situation.

Daniels may have done us a favor by making the first move so that Luck, Taylor, and Admissions have no illusions or fallback plans related to our QB situation for next season. I think the right thing happened here for all parties. 

Best of luck to Ashton! I have enjoyed watching his incredible grit, toughness, and athleticism!

Strongly agree with all of the above. Most importantly, he will get his degree. That was at least one of his goals, and he has accomplished it. Daniels may not have been interested in a graduate program at Stanford. Artificially not graduating and remaining another year (or doing some kind of post-bac program) may not have appealed to him either. If he can get some program to pay for at least one (and maybe two if he takes the redshirt year) years of graduate school, that is arguably a much better outcome for him. That would be true even if he was a "Justin Lamson" somewhere else. IMO he isn't ever going to be NFL material. He may not agree with that assessment, which makes going elsewhere even more attractive. The "worst case" is still a good deal for him.