[CTcard]

As far as I know, there hasn't been a single player in Stanford's 2011, 2012, or 2013 recruiting classes to leave the program for non-medical reasons.  Since the start of the 2011 season, the only guys to leave the program for non-medical reasons (Nottingham, Dudchock, and Nelson) went to other Top 20 academic schools with lesser football programs late in their careers for a chance at more playing time.  The high level of retention means that Stanford will have 0 true freshmen starting, only 1 true freshman in the two deep (Tucker), and only 1 second year player starting (Cotton or Hooper).

By way of contrast, U$('s recruiting class of 2011 already lost Carlisle, Heyward, Hobbi, Pomee, Wilson, and Wittek and U$('s recruiting class of 2010 lost Ambles, Baxter, Prater, Scroggins and Thomas.  Those lists don't even include 8 early NFL draft entrants.  With that volume of attrition, combined with the NCAA sanctions, it's no surprise that U$( will have at least 4 true freshmen starting and 6 more true freshmen in its two-deep when it plays Stanford.

A few add ons.

Certainly Stanford has fewer drop outs than most programs. If you want to check "all", my guess is you should run down the rosters of football programs at better schools - Notre Dame, Northwestern, Duke, etc.

On depth, USC is a special case right now. They are just now emerging from sanctions that have limited their depth which leads to the true frosh playing. They are also a special case in that they almost always recruit better than almost anybody else leading to having more true frosh ready to play. [And for that matter they are less likely to have kids stick around 5 years anyway - and not just for the NFL as you note.]

I personally don't consider anyone getting a degree as leaving early - i.e. Nelson and Dudchock. From a purely football standpoint it's more complicated: it's not clear to me that Nelson and Dudchock would have been invited back for a fifth year, but from a purely Stanford football perspective the team lost more from having potential fifth-years Yankey, Fleming, and Reynolds leave for a shot at the NFL. We've had a smattering of that kind of early exits over the past few years. Next year Peat might be an interesting case. If all goes well it seems he would be projected as a high draft pick next year, towards the end of his true junior year. We haven't had a player leave for the NFL before four years (and I hope a degree) in a long time. Luck was the most famous case where the NFL was clearly an option after junior year. We'll see what Peat wants to do.

[CTcard]

As far as I know, there hasn't been a single player in Stanford's 2011, 2012, or 2013 recruiting classes to leave the program for non-medical reasons.  Since the start of the 2011 season, the only guys to leave the program for non-medical reasons (Nottingham, Dudchock, and Nelson) went to other Top 20 academic schools with lesser football programs late in their careers for a chance at more playing time.  The high level of retention means that Stanford will have 0 true freshmen starting, only 1 true freshman in the two deep (Tucker), and only 1 second year player starting (Cotton or Hooper).

By way of contrast, U$('s recruiting class of 2011 already lost Carlisle, Heyward, Hobbi, Pomee, Wilson, and Wittek and U$('s recruiting class of 2010 lost Ambles, Baxter, Prater, Scroggins and Thomas.  Those lists don't even include 8 early NFL draft entrants.  With that volume of attrition, combined with the NCAA sanctions, it's no surprise that U$( will have at least 4 true freshmen starting and 6 more true freshmen in its two-deep when it plays Stanford.

A few add ons.

Certainly Stanford has fewer drop outs than most programs. If you want to check "all", my guess is you should run down the rosters of football programs at better schools - Notre Dame, Northwestern, Duke, etc.

On depth, USC is a special case right now. They are just now emerging from sanctions that have limited their depth which leads to the true frosh playing. They are also a special case in that they almost always recruit better than almost anybody else leading to having more true frosh ready to play. [And for that matter they are less likely to have kids stick around 5 years anyway - and not just for the NFL as you note.]

I personally don't consider anyone getting a degree as leaving early - i.e. Nelson and Dudchock. From a purely football standpoint it's more complicated: it's not clear to me that Nelson and Dudchock would have been invited back for a fifth year, but from a purely Stanford football perspective the team lost more from having potential fifth-years Yankey, Fleming, and Reynolds leave for a shot at the NFL. We've had a smattering of that kind of early exits over the past few years. Next year Peat might be an interesting case. If all goes well it seems he would be projected as a high draft pick next year, towards the end of his true junior year. We haven't had a player leave for the NFL before four years (and I hope a degree) in a long time. Luck was the most famous case where the NFL was clearly an option after junior year. We'll see what Peat wants to do.