[BostonCard]

They keep going out fast and strong.

https://twitter.com/ywd_ballislife/statu...6242034692

KJ Henry this time, 4-star DE from NC.

BC

[BostonCard]

They keep going out fast and strong.

https://twitter.com/ywd_ballislife/statu...6242034692

KJ Henry this time, 4-star DE from NC.

BC

[socalstanfan1]

Usually there are a couple of big Junior Day visits shortly after National Signing Day.  Does anyone have any information on when those will be taking place and who might be attending?

[socalstanfan1]

Usually there are a couple of big Junior Day visits shortly after National Signing Day.  Does anyone have any information on when those will be taking place and who might be attending?

[BobK]

I believe last Saturday this month

[BobK]

I believe last Saturday this month

[Cap Heresy]

Exciting news, esp the Inside LBs after losing out on Warner. I don't use twitter, so cardboard seems like it will become my personal recruiting vanguard. I guess using facebook but not twitter is the equivalent of me getting a pierced ear but not a tattoo.

[Cap Heresy]

Exciting news, esp the Inside LBs after losing out on Warner. I don't use twitter, so cardboard seems like it will become my personal recruiting vanguard. I guess using facebook but not twitter is the equivalent of me getting a pierced ear but not a tattoo.

[BostonCard]

Good piece on Mataele...

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/mataele...-the-field

Will be interesting to see what position we want him for.

https://twitter.com/Malone_Mataele/statu...1843646464

BC

[BostonCard]

Good piece on Mataele...

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/mataele...-the-field

Will be interesting to see what position we want him for.

https://twitter.com/Malone_Mataele/statu...1843646464

BC

[BobK]

https://mobile.twitter.com/mbloom11/stat...5613129729

[BobK]

https://mobile.twitter.com/mbloom11/stat...5613129729

[OutsiderFan]

Has Stanford ever offered scholarships to the #1 (Hall) and #2 (St. Brown) WRs in a class before?  I wonder if Davis Mills is at all factoring in here. 

[OutsiderFan]

Has Stanford ever offered scholarships to the #1 (Hall) and #2 (St. Brown) WRs in a class before?  I wonder if Davis Mills is at all factoring in here. 

[Hank 91]

Pretty sure this isn't behind the paywall. Here's a nice profile of Jalen Hall.

“I live in the ‘hood,” he said. “That’s one of the hardest offers to get. And being a young, black student-athlete who lives in the ‘hood -- that’s an accomplishment because not everybody gets a chance to get that offer. I felt like that was an accomplishment for me, especially because I had been waiting a while. I really did go hard in the classroom this past semester and it showed it paid off.”

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/rivals-...ignificant

[Hank 91]

Pretty sure this isn't behind the paywall. Here's a nice profile of Jalen Hall.

“I live in the ‘hood,” he said. “That’s one of the hardest offers to get. And being a young, black student-athlete who lives in the ‘hood -- that’s an accomplishment because not everybody gets a chance to get that offer. I felt like that was an accomplishment for me, especially because I had been waiting a while. I really did go hard in the classroom this past semester and it showed it paid off.”

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/rivals-...ignificant

[Hank 91]

Here's another piece from yesterday on running back Justus Woods.

Here's the money quote:

“First of all, those Stanford offensive linemen are the biggest dudes I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said. “Just the brutality of the practice and the aggressiveness definitely caught me off guard. But I loved it in every single way.”

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/justus-...o-stanford

[Hank 91]

Here's another piece from yesterday on running back Justus Woods.

Here's the money quote:

“First of all, those Stanford offensive linemen are the biggest dudes I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said. “Just the brutality of the practice and the aggressiveness definitely caught me off guard. But I loved it in every single way.”

https://stanford.rivals.com/news/justus-...o-stanford

[Bruce Wang]

Pretty sure this isn't behind the paywall. Here's a nice profile of Jalen Hall.

This is also a follow up to OutsiderFan's post.  Did I read this right?  Hall and Amon-Ra are on the same 7-7 team?!

[Bruce Wang]

Pretty sure this isn't behind the paywall. Here's a nice profile of Jalen Hall.

This is also a follow up to OutsiderFan's post.  Did I read this right?  Hall and Amon-Ra are on the same 7-7 team?!

[OutsiderFan]

[quote author=Hank 91 link=topic=12112.msg189700#msg189700 date=1488940692]
Pretty sure this isn't behind the paywall. Here's a nice profile of Jalen Hall.

This is also a follow up to OutsiderFan's post.  Did I read this right?  Hall and Amon-Ra are on the same 7-7 team?!
[/quote]

Yes, you read it right, and so too is top LB prospect and Stanford offeree Tuliaupupu on the team as well.

I must say that Jalen Hall story was one of the most enjoyable recruiting stories I've ever read.  Whether he goes to Stanford or not, it's so nice to know there are kids like him out there. 

Is anyone realizing just what Stanford is endeavoring to pull off between the classes of 2017 and 18 particularly at the positions that are all about passing?  If they land Hall and Amon-Ra, to go with Little, Sarell, Parkinson, Osiris, Wedington, Mills, and the returning from mission Simi Fehoko, holy hell, that would set Stanford up to be a national title contender.

[OutsiderFan]

[quote author=Hank 91 link=topic=12112.msg189700#msg189700 date=1488940692]
Pretty sure this isn't behind the paywall. Here's a nice profile of Jalen Hall.

This is also a follow up to OutsiderFan's post.  Did I read this right?  Hall and Amon-Ra are on the same 7-7 team?!
[/quote]

Yes, you read it right, and so too is top LB prospect and Stanford offeree Tuliaupupu on the team as well.

I must say that Jalen Hall story was one of the most enjoyable recruiting stories I've ever read.  Whether he goes to Stanford or not, it's so nice to know there are kids like him out there. 

Is anyone realizing just what Stanford is endeavoring to pull off between the classes of 2017 and 18 particularly at the positions that are all about passing?  If they land Hall and Amon-Ra, to go with Little, Sarell, Parkinson, Osiris, Wedington, Mills, and the returning from mission Simi Fehoko, holy hell, that would set Stanford up to be a national title contender.

[CornFed]

[quote author=Publius link=topic=12112.msg189719#msg189719 date=1488982484]
[quote author=Hank 91 link=topic=12112.msg189700#msg189700 date=1488940692]
Pretty sure this isn't behind the paywall. Here's a nice profile of Jalen Hall.

This is also a follow up to OutsiderFan's post.  Did I read this right?  Hall and Amon-Ra are on the same 7-7 team?!
[/quote]

Yes, you read it right, and so too is top LB prospect and Stanford offeree Tuliaupupu on the team as well.

I must say that Jalen Hall story was one of the most enjoyable recruiting stories I've ever read.  Whether he goes to Stanford or not, it's so nice to know there are kids like him out there. 

Is anyone realizing just what Stanford is endeavoring to pull off between the classes of 2017 and 18 particularly at the positions that are all about passing?  If they land Hall and Amon-Ra, to go with Little, Sarell, Parkinson, Osiris, Wedington, Mills, and the returning from mission Simi Fehoko, holy hell, that would set Stanford up to be a national title contender.
[/quote]

From your lips to God's ears!!

[CornFed]

[quote author=Publius link=topic=12112.msg189719#msg189719 date=1488982484]
[quote author=Hank 91 link=topic=12112.msg189700#msg189700 date=1488940692]
Pretty sure this isn't behind the paywall. Here's a nice profile of Jalen Hall.

This is also a follow up to OutsiderFan's post.  Did I read this right?  Hall and Amon-Ra are on the same 7-7 team?!
[/quote]

Yes, you read it right, and so too is top LB prospect and Stanford offeree Tuliaupupu on the team as well.

I must say that Jalen Hall story was one of the most enjoyable recruiting stories I've ever read.  Whether he goes to Stanford or not, it's so nice to know there are kids like him out there. 

Is anyone realizing just what Stanford is endeavoring to pull off between the classes of 2017 and 18 particularly at the positions that are all about passing?  If they land Hall and Amon-Ra, to go with Little, Sarell, Parkinson, Osiris, Wedington, Mills, and the returning from mission Simi Fehoko, holy hell, that would set Stanford up to be a national title contender.
[/quote]

From your lips to God's ears!!

[Hank 91]

One thing I'm really curious to hear from Coach Shaw -- how difficult is it to recruit elite wide receivers? There are a million reasons why a running back or offensive lineman or tight end or quarterback would want to come to Stanford, but I wonder about wide receivers. If a program is promising you 15-20 targets a game, and Stanford will give you no more than ten, what's the draw? (I know the draw, I'm just thinking like a sixteen-year-old.) Do kids understand the value of playing in a pro-style offense? Do they believe that NFL scouts will notice them blocking downfield on running plays? Obviously there are some who just want the ball in their hands as often as possible, but how prevalent is that desire? If I ever find out, I'll be sure to pass it on.

[Hank 91]

One thing I'm really curious to hear from Coach Shaw -- how difficult is it to recruit elite wide receivers? There are a million reasons why a running back or offensive lineman or tight end or quarterback would want to come to Stanford, but I wonder about wide receivers. If a program is promising you 15-20 targets a game, and Stanford will give you no more than ten, what's the draw? (I know the draw, I'm just thinking like a sixteen-year-old.) Do kids understand the value of playing in a pro-style offense? Do they believe that NFL scouts will notice them blocking downfield on running plays? Obviously there are some who just want the ball in their hands as often as possible, but how prevalent is that desire? If I ever find out, I'll be sure to pass it on.

[Bruce Wang]

One thing I'm really curious to hear from Coach Shaw -- how difficult is it to recruit elite wide receivers? There are a million reasons why a running back or offensive lineman or tight end or quarterback would want to come to Stanford, but I wonder about wide receivers. If a program is promising you 15-20 targets a game, and Stanford will give you no more than ten, what's the draw? (I know the draw, I'm just thinking like a sixteen-year-old.) Do kids understand the value of playing in a pro-style offense? Do they believe that NFL scouts will notice them blocking downfield on running plays? Obviously there are some who just want the ball in their hands as often as possible, but how prevalent is that desire? If I ever find out, I'll be sure to pass it on.

The Doug Baldwin Effect: sets you up to be a Pro-Bowl WR?  Or because you don't have the gaudy stats, you might go undrafted?

[Bruce Wang]

One thing I'm really curious to hear from Coach Shaw -- how difficult is it to recruit elite wide receivers? There are a million reasons why a running back or offensive lineman or tight end or quarterback would want to come to Stanford, but I wonder about wide receivers. If a program is promising you 15-20 targets a game, and Stanford will give you no more than ten, what's the draw? (I know the draw, I'm just thinking like a sixteen-year-old.) Do kids understand the value of playing in a pro-style offense? Do they believe that NFL scouts will notice them blocking downfield on running plays? Obviously there are some who just want the ball in their hands as often as possible, but how prevalent is that desire? If I ever find out, I'll be sure to pass it on.

The Doug Baldwin Effect: sets you up to be a Pro-Bowl WR?  Or because you don't have the gaudy stats, you might go undrafted?

[OutsiderFan]

One thing I'm really curious to hear from Coach Shaw -- how difficult is it to recruit elite wide receivers? There are a million reasons why a running back or offensive lineman or tight end or quarterback would want to come to Stanford, but I wonder about wide receivers. If a program is promising you 15-20 targets a game, and Stanford will give you no more than ten, what's the draw? (I know the draw, I'm just thinking like a sixteen-year-old.) Do kids understand the value of playing in a pro-style offense? Do they believe that NFL scouts will notice them blocking downfield on running plays? Obviously there are some who just want the ball in their hands as often as possible, but how prevalent is that desire? If I ever find out, I'll be sure to pass it on.

If you look at who Stanford is recruiting, it seems highly plausible that there is going to be more emphasis on passing in the coming years than in the ones before. 

[OutsiderFan]

One thing I'm really curious to hear from Coach Shaw -- how difficult is it to recruit elite wide receivers? There are a million reasons why a running back or offensive lineman or tight end or quarterback would want to come to Stanford, but I wonder about wide receivers. If a program is promising you 15-20 targets a game, and Stanford will give you no more than ten, what's the draw? (I know the draw, I'm just thinking like a sixteen-year-old.) Do kids understand the value of playing in a pro-style offense? Do they believe that NFL scouts will notice them blocking downfield on running plays? Obviously there are some who just want the ball in their hands as often as possible, but how prevalent is that desire? If I ever find out, I'll be sure to pass it on.

If you look at who Stanford is recruiting, it seems highly plausible that there is going to be more emphasis on passing in the coming years than in the ones before. 

[CTcard]

One thing I'm really curious to hear from Coach Shaw -- how difficult is it to recruit elite wide receivers?

Shaw will never state it publicly, but it is clear it is harder to recruit WRs to Stanford than most positions on offense presumably because we simply don't use them as much to catch the ball as most programs do. We actually do put quite a few on the field - we play lots of multiple WR sets, but we don't throw much and when we do we tend to focus more on TEs and RBs (off and on) than most programs. My impression is that WR, along with DL, has been the toughest position for Stanford to recruit under Shaw.

The guys we brought in under Shaw (positions and position rankings from 247):
2011 = Montgomery #30
2012 = Whitfield #60, Jordan #95, Rector #158
2013 = Owusu #34, T. Thomas #167 (brought in a a DB?)
2014 = (Brandt-Sims #48 athlete)
2015 = Irwin #8, Arcega-Whiteside #70
2016 = Stewart #105, Segina #362 (Fehoko #30, but really class of 2018)
2017 = St. Brown #21

That's pretty light in both numbers and high rankings.

If you look at who Stanford is recruiting, it seems highly plausible that there is going to be more emphasis on passing in the coming years than in the ones before.

That's possible. I do think that if he had the personnel, Shaw would prefer an offensive balance more like 2011 than 2016 (or if you prefer a comparison of equally adept offenses: more like 2011 than 2015).

However, just because we are recruting guys doesn't mean they are coming. We'll have to see.
I do think that the recruiting difficulties at WR will ease as recruiting gets easier all around with more years of success, Shaw cementing his reputation, and Stanford's continuing elite position as a university.

There's also a cause and effect thing. I suspect Stanford isn't specifically recruting to become a more pass-oriented offense. I think Stanford is recruiting the best players they can both attract and get admitted regardless of position, and at the moment it looks like that includes a few more options at WR. What we actually put on the field will depend on who shows up and flourishes.

[CTcard]

One thing I'm really curious to hear from Coach Shaw -- how difficult is it to recruit elite wide receivers?

Shaw will never state it publicly, but it is clear it is harder to recruit WRs to Stanford than most positions on offense presumably because we simply don't use them as much to catch the ball as most programs do. We actually do put quite a few on the field - we play lots of multiple WR sets, but we don't throw much and when we do we tend to focus more on TEs and RBs (off and on) than most programs. My impression is that WR, along with DL, has been the toughest position for Stanford to recruit under Shaw.

The guys we brought in under Shaw (positions and position rankings from 247):
2011 = Montgomery #30
2012 = Whitfield #60, Jordan #95, Rector #158
2013 = Owusu #34, T. Thomas #167 (brought in a a DB?)
2014 = (Brandt-Sims #48 athlete)
2015 = Irwin #8, Arcega-Whiteside #70
2016 = Stewart #105, Segina #362 (Fehoko #30, but really class of 2018)
2017 = St. Brown #21

That's pretty light in both numbers and high rankings.

If you look at who Stanford is recruiting, it seems highly plausible that there is going to be more emphasis on passing in the coming years than in the ones before.

That's possible. I do think that if he had the personnel, Shaw would prefer an offensive balance more like 2011 than 2016 (or if you prefer a comparison of equally adept offenses: more like 2011 than 2015).

However, just because we are recruting guys doesn't mean they are coming. We'll have to see.
I do think that the recruiting difficulties at WR will ease as recruiting gets easier all around with more years of success, Shaw cementing his reputation, and Stanford's continuing elite position as a university.

There's also a cause and effect thing. I suspect Stanford isn't specifically recruting to become a more pass-oriented offense. I think Stanford is recruiting the best players they can both attract and get admitted regardless of position, and at the moment it looks like that includes a few more options at WR. What we actually put on the field will depend on who shows up and flourishes.

[OutsiderFan]

What we actually put on the field will depend on who shows up and flourishes.

This goes without saying, but you'd have to be wearing blinders to not realize Mills, Little, Sarell, St. Brown, Parkinson, and even Wedington are the "breed of cat" that Stanford hasn't historically had in meaningful numbers. So to assume Stanford will be playing the same style in the future with these types of athletic talents, as it did with lesser talents that won with scheme, and emphasizing one or two players, seems to me naive.  We will of course see!

[OutsiderFan]

What we actually put on the field will depend on who shows up and flourishes.

This goes without saying, but you'd have to be wearing blinders to not realize Mills, Little, Sarell, St. Brown, Parkinson, and even Wedington are the "breed of cat" that Stanford hasn't historically had in meaningful numbers. So to assume Stanford will be playing the same style in the future with these types of athletic talents, as it did with lesser talents that won with scheme, and emphasizing one or two players, seems to me naive.  We will of course see!

[Hank 91]

[quote author=Hank 91 link=topic=12112.msg189730#msg189730 date=1489006350]
One thing I'm really curious to hear from Coach Shaw -- how difficult is it to recruit elite wide receivers? There are a million reasons why a running back or offensive lineman or tight end or quarterback would want to come to Stanford, but I wonder about wide receivers. If a program is promising you 15-20 targets a game, and Stanford will give you no more than ten, what's the draw? (I know the draw, I'm just thinking like a sixteen-year-old.) Do kids understand the value of playing in a pro-style offense? Do they believe that NFL scouts will notice them blocking downfield on running plays? Obviously there are some who just want the ball in their hands as often as possible, but how prevalent is that desire? If I ever find out, I'll be sure to pass it on.

The Doug Baldwin Effect: sets you up to be a Pro-Bowl WR?  Or because you don't have the gaudy stats, you might go undrafted?
[/quote]

Really good point. In all future recruiting discussions, this will be referred to as the Baldwin Paradox. Or the Kobayashi Baldwin Test.

[Hank 91]

[quote author=Hank 91 link=topic=12112.msg189730#msg189730 date=1489006350]
One thing I'm really curious to hear from Coach Shaw -- how difficult is it to recruit elite wide receivers? There are a million reasons why a running back or offensive lineman or tight end or quarterback would want to come to Stanford, but I wonder about wide receivers. If a program is promising you 15-20 targets a game, and Stanford will give you no more than ten, what's the draw? (I know the draw, I'm just thinking like a sixteen-year-old.) Do kids understand the value of playing in a pro-style offense? Do they believe that NFL scouts will notice them blocking downfield on running plays? Obviously there are some who just want the ball in their hands as often as possible, but how prevalent is that desire? If I ever find out, I'll be sure to pass it on.

The Doug Baldwin Effect: sets you up to be a Pro-Bowl WR?  Or because you don't have the gaudy stats, you might go undrafted?
[/quote]

Really good point. In all future recruiting discussions, this will be referred to as the Baldwin Paradox. Or the Kobayashi Baldwin Test.

[Bruce Wang]

Really good point. In all future recruiting discussions, this will be referred to as the Baldwin Paradox. Or the Kobayashi Baldwin Test.

LOL!  I prefer Baldwin Paradox as we should reserve references to the Kobayashi Maru for our rivals across the Bay.  The No-Win situation - lower your academic standards to the point where you have the lowest APRU in the NCAA, or maintain your standards and lose.

[Bruce Wang]

Really good point. In all future recruiting discussions, this will be referred to as the Baldwin Paradox. Or the Kobayashi Baldwin Test.

LOL!  I prefer Baldwin Paradox as we should reserve references to the Kobayashi Maru for our rivals across the Bay.  The No-Win situation - lower your academic standards to the point where you have the lowest APRU in the NCAA, or maintain your standards and lose.

[BostonCard]

[quote author=CTcard link=topic=12112.msg189760#msg189760 date=1489072002]
What we actually put on the field will depend on who shows up and flourishes.

This goes without saying, but you'd have to be wearing blinders to not realize Mills, Little, Sarell, St. Brown, Parkinson, and even Wedington are the "breed of cat" that Stanford hasn't historically had in meaningful numbers. So to assume Stanford will be playing the same style in the future with these types of athletic talents, as it did with lesser talents that won with scheme, and emphasizing one or two players, seems to me naive.  We will of course see!
[/quote]

We have had elite talent at QB, OL, and TE before.  St. Brown may be better than what we've traditionally recruited at the position (maybe Irwin compares), but we'll see what the talent on the field actually is.  I mean, Luck throwing to Baldwin and Fleener while being protected by Martin and DeCastro (all NFL players now) is pretty good precedent.

BC

[BostonCard]

[quote author=CTcard link=topic=12112.msg189760#msg189760 date=1489072002]
What we actually put on the field will depend on who shows up and flourishes.

This goes without saying, but you'd have to be wearing blinders to not realize Mills, Little, Sarell, St. Brown, Parkinson, and even Wedington are the "breed of cat" that Stanford hasn't historically had in meaningful numbers. So to assume Stanford will be playing the same style in the future with these types of athletic talents, as it did with lesser talents that won with scheme, and emphasizing one or two players, seems to me naive.  We will of course see!
[/quote]

We have had elite talent at QB, OL, and TE before.  St. Brown may be better than what we've traditionally recruited at the position (maybe Irwin compares), but we'll see what the talent on the field actually is.  I mean, Luck throwing to Baldwin and Fleener while being protected by Martin and DeCastro (all NFL players now) is pretty good precedent.

BC