Stanford returned to practice today to open the second session of spring ball after a three-week layoff for finals and spring break.
Will have a full notebook (and Harrison Phillips interview) posted in the next day or two, but some quick notes to pass along now.
-As we reported a few weeks back, fifth year OLB/DE Torsten Rotto has rejoined the football team. Rotto played a lot of OLB earlier in this career, but per Shaw will be working at both defensive line and a little OLB. His addition, along with the improved health of Solomon Thomas, who is back at practice, means that Stanford is back up to five defensive linemen. When Aziz Shittu gets healthy, Scarlett joins the team and the incoming freshmen arrive, they'll be up to nine.
-Injury news: Jesse Burkett, Patrick Skov, Brendon Austin, Sam Yules, Ronnie Harris, Aziz Shittu, Kevin Anderson (does individual, but no team), Nick Davidson (hurt at the end of the first session of spring) are out.
There is a chance that Shittu might be able to get back in some individual drills by the end of next week (though no team drills), however, and Shaw said he's ahead of schedule. Ronnie Harris also might get back for some individual drills before spring ball concludes
-Burkett's absence means that Johnny Caspers continues to work at center. And according to Shaw, Caspers is taking to the position quite well. I asked Shaw what the long-term vision was for Caspers (i.e. might he actually stick at center) and while Shaw didn't go into too many details, his answer did leave open the possibility that Caspers might, in fact, stick at center.
-Meanwhile, with Davidson and Brendon Austin out and Dave Bright doing most of his work at right guard, right tackle is pretty much Casey Tucker's for the time being. There will of course be competition when everyone gets healthy, but he's getting plenty of reps.
-Remound Wright has rejoined the team after missing the first session for disciplinary reasons.
-Several coaches from Coppell High School (a Texas HS football powerhouse, Solomon Thomas' alma mater) were at practice today.
-A huge group (50ish) of high school kids from the AIGA Foundation were on campus today and took in practice. Not all of them are college prospects, but a few looked the part. I'll try to find out if there were any Stanford prospects in the bunch. (AIGA also toured Stanford a few years ago - vast majority of the kids were not Stanford prospects, but I believe Micah and Alijah Holder were on that trip.)
Will have a full notebook (and Harrison Phillips interview) posted in the next day or two, but some quick notes to pass along now.
-As we reported a few weeks back, fifth year OLB/DE Torsten Rotto has rejoined the football team. Rotto played a lot of OLB earlier in this career, but per Shaw will be working at both defensive line and a little OLB. His addition, along with the improved health of Solomon Thomas, who is back at practice, means that Stanford is back up to five defensive linemen. When Aziz Shittu gets healthy, Scarlett joins the team and the incoming freshmen arrive, they'll be up to nine.
-Injury news: Jesse Burkett, Patrick Skov, Brendon Austin, Sam Yules, Ronnie Harris, Aziz Shittu, Kevin Anderson (does individual, but no team), Nick Davidson (hurt at the end of the first session of spring) are out.
There is a chance that Shittu might be able to get back in some individual drills by the end of next week (though no team drills), however, and Shaw said he's ahead of schedule. Ronnie Harris also might get back for some individual drills before spring ball concludes
-Burkett's absence means that Johnny Caspers continues to work at center. And according to Shaw, Caspers is taking to the position quite well. I asked Shaw what the long-term vision was for Caspers (i.e. might he actually stick at center) and while Shaw didn't go into too many details, his answer did leave open the possibility that Caspers might, in fact, stick at center.
-Meanwhile, with Davidson and Brendon Austin out and Dave Bright doing most of his work at right guard, right tackle is pretty much Casey Tucker's for the time being. There will of course be competition when everyone gets healthy, but he's getting plenty of reps.
-Remound Wright has rejoined the team after missing the first session for disciplinary reasons.
-Several coaches from Coppell High School (a Texas HS football powerhouse, Solomon Thomas' alma mater) were at practice today.
-A huge group (50ish) of high school kids from the AIGA Foundation were on campus today and took in practice. Not all of them are college prospects, but a few looked the part. I'll try to find out if there were any Stanford prospects in the bunch. (AIGA also toured Stanford a few years ago - vast majority of the kids were not Stanford prospects, but I believe Micah and Alijah Holder were on that trip.)
