[OutsiderFan]

It's always tough to handicap this stuff.  Everyone has different motivations.  Sometimes the elite, first round pick- types stay, and the UFA types go.  Guys who truly love their college experience may stay.  Guys who have their degrees may be ready to leave.  Some guys may be True Juniors or RS Sophs and elect to leave early because they badly want to play at next level.

As Stanford brings in better quality athletes in conjunction with becoming a destination program, you may see more and more True Frosh playing expressly because playing them early allows Stanford to get a guaranteed three years out of someone, vs. two if they redshirt.

Look at Alex Carter.  By all appearances, the guy is a high round NFL pick in the making.  He's poised to have a real breakout year this season.  Had he redshirted, he'd be a redshirt Frosh this year, on track to really breakout in 2014, a year that he can declare for draft.  Had that been the case, Stanford may have only gotten two years out of him on the field.  As it is, he played and made a big contribution as a Frosh, will breakout this year, and Stanford has him for a third year in 2014.

A guy like Barry Sanders may be more likely to stay in college until his eligibility is up (given his father's influence), so red shirting him may not mean much in terms of losing him early.

[OutsiderFan]

It's always tough to handicap this stuff.  Everyone has different motivations.  Sometimes the elite, first round pick- types stay, and the UFA types go.  Guys who truly love their college experience may stay.  Guys who have their degrees may be ready to leave.  Some guys may be True Juniors or RS Sophs and elect to leave early because they badly want to play at next level.

As Stanford brings in better quality athletes in conjunction with becoming a destination program, you may see more and more True Frosh playing expressly because playing them early allows Stanford to get a guaranteed three years out of someone, vs. two if they redshirt.

Look at Alex Carter.  By all appearances, the guy is a high round NFL pick in the making.  He's poised to have a real breakout year this season.  Had he redshirted, he'd be a redshirt Frosh this year, on track to really breakout in 2014, a year that he can declare for draft.  Had that been the case, Stanford may have only gotten two years out of him on the field.  As it is, he played and made a big contribution as a Frosh, will breakout this year, and Stanford has him for a third year in 2014.

A guy like Barry Sanders may be more likely to stay in college until his eligibility is up (given his father's influence), so red shirting him may not mean much in terms of losing him early.