2020 Recruiting News
First, the most important update from today is that Xavier Carlton and Peter Skoronski are at Stanford. Skoronski had talked previously about wanting to visit Stanford, but is so quiet about his recruiting process that it's difficult to know where Stanford stands. This visit indicates Stanford is more of a contender than I thought the past couple months.
Carlton's situation is tough to read for a different reason. He has some work to do and there are a number of schools in hot pursuit, especially within the conference. (Washington is the latest offer.) Stanford is still in contention for Carlton, but I think Stanford's most likely path to three defensive linemen in the class is a commitment by Frazier and another offer or two. (I think Tuli Tuipulotu enjoyed his visit, and his parents will keep Stanford a contender.)
2019 Visitors
Stanford had two walk-ons visiting: WR/SS Kale Lucas of Farmington, New Mexico (Senior Hudl) and WR Jason Kaul of Blaine, Minnesota (Senior Hudl).
I saw incoming freshmen Elijah Higgins, Austin Jones, Aeneas DiCosmo, Joshua Pakola, Bradley Archer and Tristan Sinclair at the spring game. There may be more on campus.
Higgins was part of the wide receiver huddle after the practice and it was fun to see the current guys greeting him, embracing him and how he already is treated like a member of the team. I think a lot of credit goes to position coach Bobby Kennedy. He puts in extra effort to connect with his players and build camaraderie. I saw several of the 2019 guys with their respective position groups; the wide receivers were closest to me.
Practice Notes
Stanford held a modified practice instead of a full spring game for the simple reason that they don't have enough players. There was a scrimmage for most of the second hour of the practice that the defense won, and for the most part it was decisive victory for that side of the ball. However, more pointless than the score of a spring game is any attempt to take what was seen this spring and project how the team will look this season. There are several competitions that made zero progress because of the limited players available.
The most important goal of the day was for no one to get hurt. That was not a success: Justus Woods needed help to limp off the field.
In my opinion, it was a minor football miracle that none of the offensive linemen went down this spring. Foster Sarell, Dylan Powell, Drew Dalman, Henry Hattis and Grant Pease took a lot of reps during 15 practices and came off the field once Saturday. I can say with some confidence that they were not thrilled by that development. The hope is they all improved this spring but it's not as if this group of five will ever be on the field together during an actual game.
These were the highlights from the practice and scrimmage that caught my eye without replays available:
First, the most important update from today is that Xavier Carlton and Peter Skoronski are at Stanford. Skoronski had talked previously about wanting to visit Stanford, but is so quiet about his recruiting process that it's difficult to know where Stanford stands. This visit indicates Stanford is more of a contender than I thought the past couple months.
Carlton's situation is tough to read for a different reason. He has some work to do and there are a number of schools in hot pursuit, especially within the conference. (Washington is the latest offer.) Stanford is still in contention for Carlton, but I think Stanford's most likely path to three defensive linemen in the class is a commitment by Frazier and another offer or two. (I think Tuli Tuipulotu enjoyed his visit, and his parents will keep Stanford a contender.)
2019 Visitors
Stanford had two walk-ons visiting: WR/SS Kale Lucas of Farmington, New Mexico (Senior Hudl) and WR Jason Kaul of Blaine, Minnesota (Senior Hudl).
I saw incoming freshmen Elijah Higgins, Austin Jones, Aeneas DiCosmo, Joshua Pakola, Bradley Archer and Tristan Sinclair at the spring game. There may be more on campus.
Higgins was part of the wide receiver huddle after the practice and it was fun to see the current guys greeting him, embracing him and how he already is treated like a member of the team. I think a lot of credit goes to position coach Bobby Kennedy. He puts in extra effort to connect with his players and build camaraderie. I saw several of the 2019 guys with their respective position groups; the wide receivers were closest to me.
Practice Notes
Stanford held a modified practice instead of a full spring game for the simple reason that they don't have enough players. There was a scrimmage for most of the second hour of the practice that the defense won, and for the most part it was decisive victory for that side of the ball. However, more pointless than the score of a spring game is any attempt to take what was seen this spring and project how the team will look this season. There are several competitions that made zero progress because of the limited players available.
The most important goal of the day was for no one to get hurt. That was not a success: Justus Woods needed help to limp off the field.
In my opinion, it was a minor football miracle that none of the offensive linemen went down this spring. Foster Sarell, Dylan Powell, Drew Dalman, Henry Hattis and Grant Pease took a lot of reps during 15 practices and came off the field once Saturday. I can say with some confidence that they were not thrilled by that development. The hope is they all improved this spring but it's not as if this group of five will ever be on the field together during an actual game.
These were the highlights from the practice and scrimmage that caught my eye without replays available:
- The offensive player of the game was probably sophomore wide receiver Simi Fehoko. He had a beautiful diving catch in the end zone in one-on-one drills and beat Paulson Adebo on a slant in 7-on-7. He is a graceful big guy who creates easy separation out of breaks. He scored the only touchdown for the "No. 1 offense" when he caught a drag route and ran away from Ricky Miezan for 19 yards.
- Adebo turned it on during the scrimmage. He jumped a slant by Fehoko to intercept Costello. On a play-action attempt (with two pulling linemen, which either didn't happen last season, or not often enough to lodge in my memory) Adebo flashed in from nowhere and should have intercepted a pass intended for Jay Symonds on a wheel route. Adebo also delivered two solid tackles -- He thumped Houston Heimuli for a one-yard gain in the flat and did a great job filling a gap late in the scrimmage.
- Ricky Miezan had two of the nicer plays by a front seven player when he tracked down the ball carrier and delivered a good hit. As long as things don't get complicated and he just runs he looks game ready. But he's a baby in terms of football experience and he has a lot to learn.
- KJ Costello nearly had one of his three interception first halves. He should have been picked off two more times after Adebo nabbed one. Obi Eboh jumped a route and should have had a "pick six". The defense was trying to throw a lot at the offense, and the offense is severely shorthanded, but for a defensive back group of Adebo, Eboh, Malik Antoine, Donjae Logan and JJ Parson to do as well in coverage as they did today was good news/bad news.
- On paper, and watching them run around, this should be an excellent group of pass catchers this season. The top group of Connor Wedington, Michael Wilson, Simi Fehoko and Osiris St. Brown has a lot of potential. Freshmen Higgins and Colby Bowman will compete to play as well.
- I thought the OL did a good job of keeping KJ Costello "clean" but Jack West was the victim of several "coverage sacks". Also, it's not fair, in my opinion, to evaluate the offensive line competing against rotating defenders when they get no help.
- It's a shame that Davis Mills didn't participate in 11 vs. 11. He had consecutive passes in 7-on-7 that were two of the better tosses of the day. He hit Dorian Maddox in stride despite Miezan draped in coverage. He painted the outside corner on his next pass to Harry Schwartz, again in stride. Mills eventually has to prove himself in 11 vs. 11, but he is capable of making throwing a football look easy.
- I like the one-on-one pass pro drills Stanford started using more this spring. Most of the usual suspects did well (Trevor Speights and Fisk). Although, Andres Fox's best rep of the day was probably a nice spin he put on Fisk in that drill. Jay Symonds maybe had the best rep I've seen when he got blasted on a bull rush by Jacob Mangum-Farrar, nearly fell to his knees, recovered and held off Mangum-Farrar.
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