From everything I've read so far, this appears to be the shortlist of candidates (in alphabetical order):
My first round of cuts involves players that look like they need a year of weight training to develop their bodies before they see the field. Or in the case of Scarlett, to get their body right after sustaining a significant injury the year before.
The next round of cuts involves players that will likely be forced to redshirt due to a "crowded depth chart" at the position (ex.- what happened to Solomon Thomas in 2014). They may have the talent to step in and contribute Day One but limited playing opportunities ensure that they don't.
That leaves us with a final group of:
Even among these final six, I can still see one or two redshirting. Don't forget that out of Stanford's highly touted recruiting class of 2014, only 4 true freshman saw the field. And while this recruiting class may be slightly larger, it isn't nearly as highly regarded. I think Tyler and Bailey are locks for their special teams contributions alone (a freshman's best bet to get on the field early in their career). Meeks and Edwards are a likely bet due to the uncertainty and inexperience in the secondary as well as their expected contributions on special teams. And between Love and Irwin, I'm betting that one of them redshirts. Given their obvious talents, you'd be hard-pressed to make a case against either one of them redshirting. But I believe Shaw has learned from his mistakes burning redshirts too early the last few years (Owusu and Kaumatule certainly come to mind). So if Shaw is satisfied with the backfield rotation of McCaffrey, Wright, and Sanders OR Dontonio Jordan/Isaiah Brandt-Sims/Rollins Stallworth step up to grab that 4th WR spot, I believe one of them will take a year to develop as they wait for the depth chart ahead of them to clear up. Thus, my final prediction for whose redshirt gets burned in 2015 is:
- Ben Edwards (S)
- Bryce Love (RB)
- Cameron Scarlett (RB)
- Casey Toohill (OLB)
- Jake Bailey (K/P)
- Jay Tyler (KR)
- JJ Arcega-Whiteside (WR)
- Justin Reid (S)
- Quenton Meeks (CB)
- Trent Irwin (WR)
My first round of cuts involves players that look like they need a year of weight training to develop their bodies before they see the field. Or in the case of Scarlett, to get their body right after sustaining a significant injury the year before.
- Ben Edwards (S)
- Bryce Love (RB)
- Cameron Scarlett (RB)
- Casey Toohill (OLB)
- Jake Bailey (K/P)
- Jay Tyler (KR)
- JJ Arcega-Whiteside (WR)
- Justin Reid (S)
- Quenton Meeks (CB)
- Trent Irwin (WR)
The next round of cuts involves players that will likely be forced to redshirt due to a "crowded depth chart" at the position (ex.- what happened to Solomon Thomas in 2014). They may have the talent to step in and contribute Day One but limited playing opportunities ensure that they don't.
- Ben Edwards (S)
- Bryce Love (RB)
- Jake Bailey (K/P)
- Jay Tyler (KR)
- JJ Arcega-Whiteside (WR)
- Justin Reid (S)
- Quenton Meeks (CB)
- Trent Irwin (WR)
That leaves us with a final group of:
- Ben Edwards (S)
- Bryce Love (RB)
- Jake Bailey (K/P)
- Jay Tyler (KR)
- Quenton Meeks (CB)
- Trent Irwin (WR)
Even among these final six, I can still see one or two redshirting. Don't forget that out of Stanford's highly touted recruiting class of 2014, only 4 true freshman saw the field. And while this recruiting class may be slightly larger, it isn't nearly as highly regarded. I think Tyler and Bailey are locks for their special teams contributions alone (a freshman's best bet to get on the field early in their career). Meeks and Edwards are a likely bet due to the uncertainty and inexperience in the secondary as well as their expected contributions on special teams. And between Love and Irwin, I'm betting that one of them redshirts. Given their obvious talents, you'd be hard-pressed to make a case against either one of them redshirting. But I believe Shaw has learned from his mistakes burning redshirts too early the last few years (Owusu and Kaumatule certainly come to mind). So if Shaw is satisfied with the backfield rotation of McCaffrey, Wright, and Sanders OR Dontonio Jordan/Isaiah Brandt-Sims/Rollins Stallworth step up to grab that 4th WR spot, I believe one of them will take a year to develop as they wait for the depth chart ahead of them to clear up. Thus, my final prediction for whose redshirt gets burned in 2015 is:
- Ben Edwards (S)
- Bryce Love (RB)
- Jake Bailey (K/P)
- Jay Tyler (KR)
- Quenton Meeks (CB)
