Because it's been awhile since I've done a research project, I indulged a question in my mind: what are the most talented Stanford teams of all time? Using NFL performance as a heuristic for how talented players are, I present to you Stanford football teams 1968-2015 (I figure the more recent we get the more to-be-written the NFL accomplishments of those teams are) as ranked by total Weighted Career Approximate Value among players who played that season (parentheticals: total wCAV/number of wCAV-registering players after each team, individual wCAV for each player):
1. 2010 (495/23): Sherman (97), Luck (72), DeCastro (69), Baldwin (54), Ertz (49), Murphy (33), Fleener (25), Mauro (20), M. Thomas (16), Martin (14), Bademosi (8), Toilolo (8), Fua (5), Keiser (4), Reynolds (4), G. Whalen (4), Taylor (3), Owusu (3), Skov (2), Hewitt (2), Howell (1), Stewart (1), Reuland (1)
2. 2011 (423/23): Luck (72), DeCastro (69), Ertz (49), Murphy (33), Fleming (30), Fleener (25), H. Anderson (21), Mauro (20), Montgomery (17), M. Thomas (16), Martin (14), Parry (13), Richards (10), Bademosi (8), Toilolo (8), G. Whalen (4), Taylor (3), Owusu (3), Tarpley (2), Hewitt (2), Vaughters (2), Howell (1), Stewart (1)
3. 2009 (400/20): Sherman (97), Luck (72), DeCastro (69), Baldwin (54), Fleener (25), Gerhart (16), M. Thomas (16), Martin (14), Bademosi (8), Fua (5), Keiser (4), G. Whalen (4), Taylor (3), Dray (3), Owusu (3), Skov (2), Lorig (2), Howell (1), Stewart (1), Reuland (1)
4. 1990 (379/13): Lynch (88), Whitfield (71), McCaffrey (67), Gordon (42), Dalman (36), Vardell (19), Milburn (19), George (14), Scott (8), Walsh (7), Garnett (5), Cline (2), Hoyem (1)
5. 1991 (375/15): Lynch (88), Whitfield (71), Fisk (47), Gordon (42), Dalman (36), Vardell (19), Milburn (19), George (14), Wetnight (11), Walsh (7), Armour (7), Stenstrom (6), Garnett (5), Cline (2), Hoyem (1)
6. 1989 (351/11): Lynch (88), Whitfield (71), McCaffrey (67), Archambeau (36), Dalman (36), Vardell (19), Grant (8), Scott (8), Walsh (7), Price (6), Garnett (5)
7. 2012 (322/20): Ertz (49), Peat (49), Martinez (38), Murphy (33), Fleming (30), H. Anderson (21), Mauro (20), Montgomery (17), Parry (13), Richards (10). Toilolo (8), Garnett (5), Reynolds (4), Taylor (3), Skov (2), Tarpley (2), Murphy (2), Hewitt (2), Vaughters (2), Hogan (2)
8. 1970 (306/11): Plunkett (85), Siemon (64), Barnes (40), Vataha (34), Sampson (30), Moore (14), Lazetich (13), Tipton (12), Simone (8), Freitas (5), Kadziel (1)
9. 1992 (290/13): Lynch (88), Fisk (47), Gordon (42), Dalman (36), Milburn (19), George (14), Buckey (12), Wetnight (11), Armour (7), Stenstrom (6), Garnett (5), Cline (2), Hoyem (1)
10. 1980 (287/11): Elway (140), Nelson (48), Holloway (45), McColl (24), Margerum (11), Dressel (8), Gervais (4), Rogers (4), Tyler (1), Williams (1), Mullins (1)
11. 1969 (266/10): Plunkett (85), Siemon (64), Vataha (34), Sampson (30), Moore (14), Lazetich (13), Tipton (12), Parish (9), Freitas (5), Kadziel (1)
12. 1968 (261/7): Plunkett (85), Washington (71), Buehler (52), Snider (29), Moore (14), Parish (9), Kadziel (1)
13. 1977 (258/14): Lofton (102), Nelson (48), King (28), McColl (24), Dils (16), Schonert (12), Margerum (11), Banks (4), Gervais (4), Francis (3), Evans (2), Ceresino (2), Benjamin (1), Rennaker (1)
14. 1979 (253/13): Elway (140), Holloway (45), McColl (24), Schonert (12), Margerum (11), Banks (4), Gervais (4), Rogers (4), Laufenberg (4), Evans (2), Hines (1), Rennaker (1), Tyler (1)
15. 2013 (252/17): Peat (49), Martinez (38), Murphy (33), Fleming (30), H. Anderson (21), Mauro (20), Montgomery (17), Parry (13), Richards (10), Garnett (5), Reynolds (4), Skov (2), Tarpley (2), Murphy (2), Hewitt (2), Vaughters (2), Hogan (2)
16. 2014 (251/15): Peat (49), McCaffrey (44), Martinez (38), Hooper (27), H. Anderson (21), Montgomery (17), Phillips (16), Parry (13), Richards (10), Garnett (5), Kalambayi (3), Tarpley (2), Murphy (2), Vaughters (2), Hogan (2)
17. 1981 (247/9): Elway (140), Nelson (48), Veris (26), Harry (18), Dressel (8), Rogers (4), Tyler (1), Williams (1), Mullins (1)
18. 1982 (242/10): Elway (140), Wyman (37), Veris (26), Harry (18), Dressel (8), Baty (8), Briehl (2), Williams (1), Mullins (1), Noble (1)
19. 2015 (240/16): McCaffrey (44), Martinez (38), Hooper (27), Okereke (22), Reid (21), Schultz (18), S. Thomas (17), Phillips (16), B. Scarlett (15), Bailey (7), Garnett (5), Kalambayi (3), Murphy (2), Hogan (2), Irwin (2), Meeks (1)
20. 2008 (239/14): Sherman (97), Baldwin (54), Fleener (25), Gerhart (16), M. Thomas (16), Bademosi (8), Fua (5), Keiser (4), G. Whalen (4), Dray (3), Owusu (3), Lorig (2), Howell (1), Stewart (1)
21. 1986 (225/10): McCaffrey (67), Wyman (37), Cook (37), Archambeau (36), Muster (31), Grant (8), Price (6), Noble (1), Leiker (1), Harris (1)
22. 2001 (211/15): Heitmann (40), Atogwe (34), Wire (22), Harris (22), Williams (20), Svitek (14), Camarillo (14), Smith (11), Chambers (9), Branch (8), Torrence (5), Wilson (5), Gordon (4), T. Johnson (2) Fasani (1)
23. 1976 (209/9): Lofton (102), Hill (68), King (28), Francis (3), Anderson (3), Evans (2), Ceresino (2), Michel (2), Benjamin (1), Olenchalk (1)
24. 1975 (207/8): Lofton (102), Hill (68), King (28), Anderson (3), Ceresino (2), Michel (2), Benjamin (1), Olenchalk (1)
25. 1971 (206/10): Siemon (64), Barnes (40), Sampson (30), Merlo (30), Lazetich (13), Poltl (10), Simone (8), Boryla (8), Askea (2), Bragonier (1)
26. 1984 (198/10): Wyman (37), Cook (37), Cain (37), Muster (31), Veris (26), Harry (18), Baty (8), Briehl (2), Noble (1), Harris (1)
27. 1974 (194/8): Hill (68), Donovan (64), King (28), Laidlaw (15), Stillwell (14), Anderson (3), Benjamin (1), Olenchalk (1)
28. 1994 (188/11): Fisk (47), Draft (38), Wong (37), Badger (30), Buckey (12), Armour (7), Stenstrom (6), Frost (5), Harris (3), Cline (2), Manning (1)
28. 1973 (188/8): Hill (68), Donovan (64), Laidlaw (15), Stillwell (14), Poltl (10), Boryla (8), Reid (6), Anderson (3)
30. 1978 (178/15): Nelson (48), Holloway (45), McColl (24), Dils (16), Schonert (12), Margerum (11), Banks (4), Gervais (4), Rogers (4), Francis (3), Evans (2), Ceresino (2), Hines (1), Rennaker (1), Tyler (1)
30. 2007 (178/7): Sherman (97), Baldwin (54), Gerhart (16), Moore (5), Dray (3), Lorig (2), Stewart (1)
32. 1996 (171/10): Draft (38), Wong (37), Badger (30), Spragan (23), Walters (12), Ritchie (11), Clark (9), Comella (6), Hutchinson (4), Manning (1)
33. 1987 (156/6): McCaffrey (67), Archambeau (36), Muster (31), Grant (8), Scott (8), Price (6)
34. 1972 (149/8): Donovan (64), Merlo (30), Laidlaw (15), Stillwell (14), Poltl (10), Boryla (8), Reid (6), Askea (2)
35. 2006 (146/8): Sherman (97), Edwards (16), Gerhart (16), Moore (5), Fua (5), Dray (3), Harrison (2), Lorig (2)
36. 2002 (137/14): Atogwe (34), Harris (22), Svitek (14), Camarillo (14), Smith (11), Chambers (9), Branch (8), Torrence (5), Wilson (5), Alston (5), Gordon (4), Rushing (3), T. Johnson (2), Jenkins (1)
37. 1995 (136/8): Draft (38), Wong (37), Badger (30), Buckey (12), Clark (9), Comella (6), Harris (3), Manning (1)
38. 1997 (135/10): Draft (38), Wong (37), Spragan (23), Walters (12), Ritchie (11), Comella (6), Hutchinson (4), Johnson (2), Merrill (1), Howard (1)
39. 1983 (131/9): Wyman (37), Cain (37), Veris (26), Harry (18), Baty (8), Briehl (2), Williams (1), Mullins (1), Noble (1)
40. 2003 (128/14): Atogwe (34), Edwards (16), Svitek (14), Camarillo (14), Smith (11), Chambers (9), Torrence (5), Wilson (5), Alston (5), Moore (5), Gordon (4), Rushing (3), Harrison (2), Jenkins (1)
41. 2000 (125/9): Heitmann (40), Wire (22), Harris (22), Williams (20), Chambers (9), Branch (8), R. Johnson (2), Howard (1), Fasani (1)
42. 1998 (121/8): Heitmann (40), Spragan (23), Wire (22), Williams (20), Walters (12), Johnson (2), Howard (1), Fasani (1)
43. 2004 (115/12): Atogwe (34), Edwards (16), Svitek (14), Camarillo (14), Smith (11), Torrence (5), Wilson (5), Alston (5), Moore (5), Rushing (3), Harrison (2), Jenkins (1)
44. 1999 (106/8): Heitmann (40), Wire (22), Williams (20), Walters (12), Branch (8), R. Johnson (2), Howard (1), Fasani (1)
45. 1993 (90/10): Fisk (47), Buckey (12), Armour (7), Stenstrom (6), Comella (6), Frost (5), Harris (3), Cline (2), Hoyem (1), Manning (1)
46. 1988 (84/6): Archambeau (36), Vardell (19), Grant (8), Scott (8), Walsh (7), Price (6)
47. 1985 (78/5): Cook (37), Muster (31), Baty (8), Leiker (1), Harris (1)
48. 2005 (32/6): Edwards (16), Alston (5), Moore (5), Rushing (3), Harrison (2), Jenkins (1)
2014 and 2015 will rise but won't reach the top tier.
Observations:
* Quite obvious 2010-2011 was the high point. 23 contributing NFL players! Kind of obvious considering those were the best teams in our history. I put Luck up against any player in college history but wow what a supporting cast. No doubt in my mind he had a far superior supporting cast to Hogan, Plunkett, or Elway.
* 1990-1991 really stand out as well. I continue to think Denny Green is the most overrated person to ever be associated with Stanford football. Jack Elway left an incredible cupboard (see 1989) and by the time those players were veterans of course Green's teams played well. And then Green left Walsh II a roster poised to go off a cliff after a year.
* The team Harris inherited from Teevens is unspeakable. Shocking. Similarly, Wiggin did Elway no favors.
* The historical norm is for a given roster to have about 8-10 guys play who go on to have contributing NFL careers. It feels to me like Taylor is inheriting a lowly roster by our standards but we'll see.
Would love to hear others' thoughts on this data and/or other impressions of Stanford's most/least talented teams.
1. 2010 (495/23): Sherman (97), Luck (72), DeCastro (69), Baldwin (54), Ertz (49), Murphy (33), Fleener (25), Mauro (20), M. Thomas (16), Martin (14), Bademosi (8), Toilolo (8), Fua (5), Keiser (4), Reynolds (4), G. Whalen (4), Taylor (3), Owusu (3), Skov (2), Hewitt (2), Howell (1), Stewart (1), Reuland (1)
2. 2011 (423/23): Luck (72), DeCastro (69), Ertz (49), Murphy (33), Fleming (30), Fleener (25), H. Anderson (21), Mauro (20), Montgomery (17), M. Thomas (16), Martin (14), Parry (13), Richards (10), Bademosi (8), Toilolo (8), G. Whalen (4), Taylor (3), Owusu (3), Tarpley (2), Hewitt (2), Vaughters (2), Howell (1), Stewart (1)
3. 2009 (400/20): Sherman (97), Luck (72), DeCastro (69), Baldwin (54), Fleener (25), Gerhart (16), M. Thomas (16), Martin (14), Bademosi (8), Fua (5), Keiser (4), G. Whalen (4), Taylor (3), Dray (3), Owusu (3), Skov (2), Lorig (2), Howell (1), Stewart (1), Reuland (1)
4. 1990 (379/13): Lynch (88), Whitfield (71), McCaffrey (67), Gordon (42), Dalman (36), Vardell (19), Milburn (19), George (14), Scott (8), Walsh (7), Garnett (5), Cline (2), Hoyem (1)
5. 1991 (375/15): Lynch (88), Whitfield (71), Fisk (47), Gordon (42), Dalman (36), Vardell (19), Milburn (19), George (14), Wetnight (11), Walsh (7), Armour (7), Stenstrom (6), Garnett (5), Cline (2), Hoyem (1)
6. 1989 (351/11): Lynch (88), Whitfield (71), McCaffrey (67), Archambeau (36), Dalman (36), Vardell (19), Grant (8), Scott (8), Walsh (7), Price (6), Garnett (5)
7. 2012 (322/20): Ertz (49), Peat (49), Martinez (38), Murphy (33), Fleming (30), H. Anderson (21), Mauro (20), Montgomery (17), Parry (13), Richards (10). Toilolo (8), Garnett (5), Reynolds (4), Taylor (3), Skov (2), Tarpley (2), Murphy (2), Hewitt (2), Vaughters (2), Hogan (2)
8. 1970 (306/11): Plunkett (85), Siemon (64), Barnes (40), Vataha (34), Sampson (30), Moore (14), Lazetich (13), Tipton (12), Simone (8), Freitas (5), Kadziel (1)
9. 1992 (290/13): Lynch (88), Fisk (47), Gordon (42), Dalman (36), Milburn (19), George (14), Buckey (12), Wetnight (11), Armour (7), Stenstrom (6), Garnett (5), Cline (2), Hoyem (1)
10. 1980 (287/11): Elway (140), Nelson (48), Holloway (45), McColl (24), Margerum (11), Dressel (8), Gervais (4), Rogers (4), Tyler (1), Williams (1), Mullins (1)
11. 1969 (266/10): Plunkett (85), Siemon (64), Vataha (34), Sampson (30), Moore (14), Lazetich (13), Tipton (12), Parish (9), Freitas (5), Kadziel (1)
12. 1968 (261/7): Plunkett (85), Washington (71), Buehler (52), Snider (29), Moore (14), Parish (9), Kadziel (1)
13. 1977 (258/14): Lofton (102), Nelson (48), King (28), McColl (24), Dils (16), Schonert (12), Margerum (11), Banks (4), Gervais (4), Francis (3), Evans (2), Ceresino (2), Benjamin (1), Rennaker (1)
14. 1979 (253/13): Elway (140), Holloway (45), McColl (24), Schonert (12), Margerum (11), Banks (4), Gervais (4), Rogers (4), Laufenberg (4), Evans (2), Hines (1), Rennaker (1), Tyler (1)
15. 2013 (252/17): Peat (49), Martinez (38), Murphy (33), Fleming (30), H. Anderson (21), Mauro (20), Montgomery (17), Parry (13), Richards (10), Garnett (5), Reynolds (4), Skov (2), Tarpley (2), Murphy (2), Hewitt (2), Vaughters (2), Hogan (2)
16. 2014 (251/15): Peat (49), McCaffrey (44), Martinez (38), Hooper (27), H. Anderson (21), Montgomery (17), Phillips (16), Parry (13), Richards (10), Garnett (5), Kalambayi (3), Tarpley (2), Murphy (2), Vaughters (2), Hogan (2)
17. 1981 (247/9): Elway (140), Nelson (48), Veris (26), Harry (18), Dressel (8), Rogers (4), Tyler (1), Williams (1), Mullins (1)
18. 1982 (242/10): Elway (140), Wyman (37), Veris (26), Harry (18), Dressel (8), Baty (8), Briehl (2), Williams (1), Mullins (1), Noble (1)
19. 2015 (240/16): McCaffrey (44), Martinez (38), Hooper (27), Okereke (22), Reid (21), Schultz (18), S. Thomas (17), Phillips (16), B. Scarlett (15), Bailey (7), Garnett (5), Kalambayi (3), Murphy (2), Hogan (2), Irwin (2), Meeks (1)
20. 2008 (239/14): Sherman (97), Baldwin (54), Fleener (25), Gerhart (16), M. Thomas (16), Bademosi (8), Fua (5), Keiser (4), G. Whalen (4), Dray (3), Owusu (3), Lorig (2), Howell (1), Stewart (1)
21. 1986 (225/10): McCaffrey (67), Wyman (37), Cook (37), Archambeau (36), Muster (31), Grant (8), Price (6), Noble (1), Leiker (1), Harris (1)
22. 2001 (211/15): Heitmann (40), Atogwe (34), Wire (22), Harris (22), Williams (20), Svitek (14), Camarillo (14), Smith (11), Chambers (9), Branch (8), Torrence (5), Wilson (5), Gordon (4), T. Johnson (2) Fasani (1)
23. 1976 (209/9): Lofton (102), Hill (68), King (28), Francis (3), Anderson (3), Evans (2), Ceresino (2), Michel (2), Benjamin (1), Olenchalk (1)
24. 1975 (207/8): Lofton (102), Hill (68), King (28), Anderson (3), Ceresino (2), Michel (2), Benjamin (1), Olenchalk (1)
25. 1971 (206/10): Siemon (64), Barnes (40), Sampson (30), Merlo (30), Lazetich (13), Poltl (10), Simone (8), Boryla (8), Askea (2), Bragonier (1)
26. 1984 (198/10): Wyman (37), Cook (37), Cain (37), Muster (31), Veris (26), Harry (18), Baty (8), Briehl (2), Noble (1), Harris (1)
27. 1974 (194/8): Hill (68), Donovan (64), King (28), Laidlaw (15), Stillwell (14), Anderson (3), Benjamin (1), Olenchalk (1)
28. 1994 (188/11): Fisk (47), Draft (38), Wong (37), Badger (30), Buckey (12), Armour (7), Stenstrom (6), Frost (5), Harris (3), Cline (2), Manning (1)
28. 1973 (188/8): Hill (68), Donovan (64), Laidlaw (15), Stillwell (14), Poltl (10), Boryla (8), Reid (6), Anderson (3)
30. 1978 (178/15): Nelson (48), Holloway (45), McColl (24), Dils (16), Schonert (12), Margerum (11), Banks (4), Gervais (4), Rogers (4), Francis (3), Evans (2), Ceresino (2), Hines (1), Rennaker (1), Tyler (1)
30. 2007 (178/7): Sherman (97), Baldwin (54), Gerhart (16), Moore (5), Dray (3), Lorig (2), Stewart (1)
32. 1996 (171/10): Draft (38), Wong (37), Badger (30), Spragan (23), Walters (12), Ritchie (11), Clark (9), Comella (6), Hutchinson (4), Manning (1)
33. 1987 (156/6): McCaffrey (67), Archambeau (36), Muster (31), Grant (8), Scott (8), Price (6)
34. 1972 (149/8): Donovan (64), Merlo (30), Laidlaw (15), Stillwell (14), Poltl (10), Boryla (8), Reid (6), Askea (2)
35. 2006 (146/8): Sherman (97), Edwards (16), Gerhart (16), Moore (5), Fua (5), Dray (3), Harrison (2), Lorig (2)
36. 2002 (137/14): Atogwe (34), Harris (22), Svitek (14), Camarillo (14), Smith (11), Chambers (9), Branch (8), Torrence (5), Wilson (5), Alston (5), Gordon (4), Rushing (3), T. Johnson (2), Jenkins (1)
37. 1995 (136/8): Draft (38), Wong (37), Badger (30), Buckey (12), Clark (9), Comella (6), Harris (3), Manning (1)
38. 1997 (135/10): Draft (38), Wong (37), Spragan (23), Walters (12), Ritchie (11), Comella (6), Hutchinson (4), Johnson (2), Merrill (1), Howard (1)
39. 1983 (131/9): Wyman (37), Cain (37), Veris (26), Harry (18), Baty (8), Briehl (2), Williams (1), Mullins (1), Noble (1)
40. 2003 (128/14): Atogwe (34), Edwards (16), Svitek (14), Camarillo (14), Smith (11), Chambers (9), Torrence (5), Wilson (5), Alston (5), Moore (5), Gordon (4), Rushing (3), Harrison (2), Jenkins (1)
41. 2000 (125/9): Heitmann (40), Wire (22), Harris (22), Williams (20), Chambers (9), Branch (8), R. Johnson (2), Howard (1), Fasani (1)
42. 1998 (121/8): Heitmann (40), Spragan (23), Wire (22), Williams (20), Walters (12), Johnson (2), Howard (1), Fasani (1)
43. 2004 (115/12): Atogwe (34), Edwards (16), Svitek (14), Camarillo (14), Smith (11), Torrence (5), Wilson (5), Alston (5), Moore (5), Rushing (3), Harrison (2), Jenkins (1)
44. 1999 (106/8): Heitmann (40), Wire (22), Williams (20), Walters (12), Branch (8), R. Johnson (2), Howard (1), Fasani (1)
45. 1993 (90/10): Fisk (47), Buckey (12), Armour (7), Stenstrom (6), Comella (6), Frost (5), Harris (3), Cline (2), Hoyem (1), Manning (1)
46. 1988 (84/6): Archambeau (36), Vardell (19), Grant (8), Scott (8), Walsh (7), Price (6)
47. 1985 (78/5): Cook (37), Muster (31), Baty (8), Leiker (1), Harris (1)
48. 2005 (32/6): Edwards (16), Alston (5), Moore (5), Rushing (3), Harrison (2), Jenkins (1)
2014 and 2015 will rise but won't reach the top tier.
Observations:
* Quite obvious 2010-2011 was the high point. 23 contributing NFL players! Kind of obvious considering those were the best teams in our history. I put Luck up against any player in college history but wow what a supporting cast. No doubt in my mind he had a far superior supporting cast to Hogan, Plunkett, or Elway.
* 1990-1991 really stand out as well. I continue to think Denny Green is the most overrated person to ever be associated with Stanford football. Jack Elway left an incredible cupboard (see 1989) and by the time those players were veterans of course Green's teams played well. And then Green left Walsh II a roster poised to go off a cliff after a year.
* The team Harris inherited from Teevens is unspeakable. Shocking. Similarly, Wiggin did Elway no favors.
* The historical norm is for a given roster to have about 8-10 guys play who go on to have contributing NFL careers. It feels to me like Taylor is inheriting a lowly roster by our standards but we'll see.
Would love to hear others' thoughts on this data and/or other impressions of Stanford's most/least talented teams.
