2012 Statistics

ASST. COACHES

Off. Coordinator/OL Coach: Mike Bloomgren (3rd season)
Previous: NFL Jets Asst. Off. Coor.

Def. Coordinator/DB Coach: Derek Mason (4th season)
Previous: NFL Vikings Asst. DB Coach

Quarterbacks/Receivers: Mike Sanford (3rd season)
Previous: Western Kentucky QB Coach

Tight Ends: Morgan Turner (4th season)
Previous: Indiana State QB Coach

Defensive Line: Randy Hart (4th season)
Previous: Notre Dame DL Coach

Inside Linebackers : David Kotulski (2nd season)
Previous: Lehigh Def. Coor./LB Coach

Outside Linebackers : Lance Anderson (7th season)
Previous: San Diego DL Coach

Special Teams: Pete Alamar (2nd season)
Previous: Fresno State TE/Sp. Teams Coach

    QUARTERBACK  

• Kevin Hogan was a revelation when he took over for the final four games of 2012 and led them to be Rose Bowl Champions. Firmly entrenched as the starter now it remains to be whether coaches will continue to put Hogan in a read-option package designed to take advantage of his mobility. He is the team's leading returning rusher.
• The passing game posted dismal numbers a year ago (ranked 93rd nationally in passing offense). For Hogan to be a more respected quarterback he will have to guide a better a passing attack and coaches seem resolved to develop one as they strayed from the usual power run game this spring to gauge the progress of its vertical passing attack (62 passing attempts in spring game).
• Leading passer Josh Nunes missed all of spring ball after suffering a biceps muscle injury to his throwing arm while lifting weights in January. His return for the fall is up in the air as Coach Shaw indicated his situation may not be a short-term deal.
• Redshirt sophomore Evan Crower takes over back up duties as a result of Nunes' injury. Crower has played well in all of the spring scrimmages consistently throwing the football accurately with a good grasp of the system.

• Calling this a running back by committee may be an understatement as five or more different players will be called upon to fill the shoes of departed Stepfan Taylor who carried the ball an amazing 322 times last fall.
• The running backs are the deepest unit on the team. In the spring game 13 different players registered at least one carry with no one person getting more than seven attempts.
• Seniors Anthony Wilkerson and Tyler Gaffney will likely get the bulk of the carries come fall based mostly on experience. Wilkerson is a power back who was the primary backup for Taylor. Back on the gridiron after taking a year off to play professional baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tyler Gaffney will give Stanford a solid 1-2 punch.
• Ricky Seale has been overshadowed by the more experienced backs but Coach Shaw is giddy about the Southern California native. Seale was the most productive in the spring game.
• Redshirt frosh Barry Sanders (son of NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders Sr.) is still working to find a carry or two in this overstuffed depth chart. Expect to see him come in on an occasion and see what his shiftiness can accomplish.

• Big Stat: Other than fullback Ryan Hewitt, no one on this current roster caught a touchdown pass last season. The passing game has to improve. Ergo, it's easy to see why this unit - and the passing game as a whole - is the biggest question mark heading into 2013.
• No doubt Ty Montgomery is the No. 1 receiver. The rising junior looks explosive despite having to shake off a disappointing 2012 campaign.
• Kodi Whitfield is not the deep threat Montgomery is but could be the most versatile and best route-runner. He can play all three receiver positions.
• Michael Rector has improved leaps and bounds since his freshman year. He and Devon Cajuste have been singled out this spring as two new guys in the rotation that will be heavily counted on.
• Kelsey Young may be the most dynamic athlete. The X-factor offers another gear for playmaking and sports a hybrid role as a receiver and ball carrier out of the backfield.
• Entering the battle in the fall will be Francis Owusu (taller brother of former Cardinal Chris) who was arguably the best prep receiver on the West Coast.

• How do you replace two of the country's best tight ends as both Levine Toilolo and Zach Ertz declared early for the NFL Draft? The results revealed during the spring are incomplete.
• Not a single tight end on the roster has recorded even a single reception in his college career. And only one scholarship player (Davis Dudchock) was recruited as a tight end out of high school.
• Redshirt freshman Luke Kaumatule is the leader in the clubhouse to claim the starting tight end spot. The prep All-American from Hawai'i stands at 6'7 and has been the subject of much hype.
• The tight end picture won't come into focus until the three touted incoming freshmen tight ends (Austin Hooper, Eric Cotton and Greg Taboada) arrive on campus in the fall. There will be ample opportunity for each to break into the rotation.

    OFFENSIVE LINE  

• Up front on offense is where Stanford beats people. Coaches know how to recruit this position and 2013 will see the fruits of their labor. Center is the only spot that is a question mark with the departure of Sam Schwartzstein.
• Even the backups on this unit were some of the most heralded offensive linemen coming out of high school.
• Consensus All-American David Yankey is one of the most dominant and versatile offensive linemen in the nation. He is the winner of the 2012 Morris Trophy, by vote of the conference's defensive lineman as the Outstanding Offensive Lineman in the Pac-12.
• The emergence of Andrus Peat, one of the most sought after recruits in the country, at left tackle has allowed Yankey to move down to guard. Peat has his confidence up and body weight down. Look for him to be one of the most impact newcomers on the entire depth chart.
• The center competition is down to three primary candidates: Khalil Wilkes, Kevin Danser and Conor McFadden. Although All-Pac 12 guard Danser is only an experimental thought in case one of the others cannot hold down the snapping duties.
• 13 game starter Cameron Fleming continues to man the right tackle spot and has the ability to dominate in the running game.

    DEFENSIVE LINE  

• Stanford led the entire country in sack production last fall. The talent and experience returning is outstanding.
• It's rare to find two All-American defensive ends on one team but Henry Anderson and Ben Gardner are both prime candidates. Anderson already is a NationalChamps.net Preseason All-American and Gardner is not far behind.
• The only question will be who emerges to provide depth at nose tackle behind David Parry as Stanford likes to rotate the two frontline players in the middle.
• Depth on the defensive line has not always been plentiful. However, Coach Shaw says he is excited about the possibilities as several of the team's young linemen are developing nicely. Josh Mauro played at an extremely high level much of 2012 while Jordan Watkins, Aziz Shittu and the rest provide sufficient depth.

• Despite the fact Chase Thomas and Alex Debniak are gone, the outside linebackers are still expected to be a major pain for opposing offenses. The return of All-American Trent Murphy, a healthy Blake Lueders, an emerging Kevin Anderson and a physically gifted former Rivals 100 recruit James Vaughters combine to create a potent quartet at the position.
• Vaughters moved from inside to outside and has been rotating with Blake Lueders on the first team. The position battle turned out to be one of the best of spring ball. Both are going to see the field. Lueders played well his first two seasons but an injured shoulder prevented him from maximizing his talents.
• Fifth-year senior Shayne Skov is more to this team than 237 career tackles and a role model on four bowl teams. His trademark Mohawk and body weight is history as are the lingering effects from his severe knee injury of 2011, but his emotional leadership is immeasurable. Skov has assumed an integral role not only on the field, but also in the locker room.
• A.J. Tarpley is one of the more instinctive linebackers in the conference and is one of the most underrated second year starters on the team.

• The safety position is well-stocked as both starters Jordan Richards and Ed Reynolds return as does top reserve Devon Carrington, a player who was penciled in as a starter heading into 2012 before a hand injury sidelined him.
• All-American Ed Reynolds led Stanford with six interceptions last fall, the most by a Stanford player since 1973. Reynolds also set a new school record with three interceptions returned for a touchdown.
• At corner the surprise early departure of Terrence Brown shouldn't sting too bad. Alex Carter will rank among the best covermen in the Pac 12 and expectations will be high for a healthy Wayne Lyons. Senior Barry Browning is a proven commodity as well after earning substantial playing time as a starter or backup last year.