Cardinal recruiting class lacking in big stars
SIGNING LIST Jason Amsler
• OG (6-5, 280 Franklin, Tenn. / Franklin HS: No. 62 ranked guard by PrepStar.
• DE Aaron Armitage (6-5, 250) Ajax, Ont. / Blair Academy (N.J.): Consensus top-30 defensive end nationally.
• RB Brendon Barrow (5-8, 180) Etobicoke, Ont. / Clearwater Academy International (Fla.): Canada Football Chat’s No. 1 running back and No. 5 player overall.
• DE Zach Buckey (6-5, 255) Bakersfield, Calif. / Garces Memorial HS: Father, Jeff, was a teammate of David Shaw’s at Stanford.
•S Caleb Ellis (6-1, 185) McKinney, Texas / Independence HS: Rated the No. 51 safety by ESPN.
• DE Anthony Franklin (6-4, 250) Phoenix, Ariz. / Pinnacle HS: At weak-side defensive end, ranked No. 47 by PrepStar.
• WR David Kasemervisz (6-1, 185) Sugar Land, Texas / Fort Bend Christian HS: Placed sixth at the 2018 USATF National Junior Olympics in 15-16 decathlon.
•K Emmet Kenney (6-4, 190) Fargo, N.D. / Shanley HS: State record-holder for longest field goal (58yards).
•S Mitch Leigber (6-1, 205) Laguna Hills, Calif. / Laguna Hills HS: Unanimous top-40 safety and 2019 all-CIF Southern Section.
• OT Jack Leyrer (6-7, 285) Dallas, Texas / Highland Park HS: Ranked No. 37by ESPN and No. 52by PrepStar at offensive tackle.
• FB Coco Lukrich (6-3, 250) Heber City, Utah / Park City HS: Father, John, played football and rugby at California.
• WR/RB Danny McFadden (5-9, 175) Sunfish Lake, Minn. / St. Thomas Academy: Brothers Conor and Pat played football at Stanford.
• QB Ari Patu (6-5, 200) Folsom, Calif. / Folsom HS: A consensus top-25 dual-threat quarterback, ranked No. 6 by ESPN.
• WR Jayson Raines (6-5, 195) West Orange, N.J. / West Orange HS: The No. 78 wide receiver according to PrepStar.
• OLB Duke Reeder (6-4, 230) San Francisco, Calif. / St. Ignatius Prep: Nike National All-Star and Adrenaline All-American in lacrosse.
• CB Jaden Slocum (6-2, 185) Alpharetta, Ga. / Alpharetta HS: A consensus top-70 safety, ranked No. 32 by Rivals.
• ILB William Stockwell (6-2, 205) Hyde Park, Mass. / Catholic Memorial HS: Also competed in lacrosse and hockey.
• FB Shield Taylor (6-4, 236) Alexandria, La. / Alexandria Senior HS: Has three siblings, Skylar, Suede and Slayte.
•P Connor Weselman (6-4, 195) Atlanta, Ga. / Westminster School: The No. 3 punter nationally according to PrepStar.
• CB/S Jimmy Wyrick (5-11, 170) Dallas, Texas / South Oak Cliff HS: At cornerback, ranked No. 39 by PrepStar, No. 49 by Rivals.
While the pandemic made recruiting challenging for everyone, Stanford coach David Shaw said his program may have been hit the hardest.
“We’re probably hurt more than any other program in America because a visit to our campus is so significant,” Shaw said. “A visit to our campus is really what inspires a lot of these guys to say ‘ I’m going to take those AP courses because this place is worth it.’”
Stanford’s campus has been closed to visitors, including recruits, because of the novel coronavirus. But the recruiting cycle continues, and on Wednesday the Cardinal announced 20 players that signed during the NCAA’s early signing period.
Whatever the reason, Stanford’s 2021 class isn’t as respected as previous groups. After having its recruiting class ranked in the top 25 nationally in six of the last seven years by 247sports and Rivals, Stanford’s class is currently ranked 60th by 247sports and 62nd by Rivals.
But Shaw said Wednesday he wasn’t frustrated by missing out on more top targets than usual.
“I don’t really get frustrated,” Shaw said. “This day is about the guys who do come. Everybody in America has guys they recruit who don’t come. So I’m going to focus about the guys who are here, and be excited about those guys.”
It’s also not too late for the rankings to change. Additional players can sign through Friday when the early signing period ends, and also during the traditional signing period, set to begin Feb. 3.
Among the highlights Wednesday:
TOP PLAYER >> The lone fourstar recruit in both the 247sports and Rivals rankings is defensive end Aaron Armitage, an Ontario native who played at Blair Academy in Blairstown, N. J.
Ranked No. 114 nationally by Prepstar and No. 8 at strong side defensive end by Rivals, Armitage had 10.5 sacks and 25 tackles for loss over six games in 2019. TOP POSITION GROUP >> Four of the top seven players in the class, according to 247sports, are defensive backs. The group is headlined by Mitch Leigber of Laguna Hills, Calif, a unanimous top- 40 safety who is ranked as high as No. 28 by PrepStar. He was an allCIF Southern Section honoree in 2019, though his senior season has been postponed by COVID-19.