I only count 18 seniors on the offense/defense 2-deep. 21 counts the two punters and the H-back.
Of the 18 senior position players (10 O, 8 D), only 12 are starters, and one of those is the fullback. 7 on offense, 5 on D. They lose 3/5 on the OL and both ILBs, those are the units that are hardest hit.
They have 11 sophomores on the 2-deep this season, 7 of those on defense. Those sophomores go along with 13 juniors (7 O, 6 D) and 2 freshmen (1 O, 1 D) on the 2-deep.
Altogether, it looks like they should have some decent experience coming back. An argument could be made that this year might be their down year, with so many sophomores on the field. Leadership is always a question mark, but Costello comes back on offense. They'll have to make some changes on the OL and with the receivers (5 of the 10 receivers on the roster are seniors). Overall, I'm not convinced they'll be significantly better or worse than this year. D should be OK, the question is how well the O can backfill.
Incidentally, we lose 12 from the 2-deep. 5 on O, 7 on D. I'd say based on that that we look really good for next season, but 2 of those 12 are Minshew and Pelluer, so we have big question marks regarding leadership on both sides of the ball.
I've heard this song about Stanford before. I'll believe it when I see it.
Get ready to see it.
Of the receivers coming back next year none of them had more than 11 catches for the season.
Out of the top 8 receivers for Stanford the #1, #2, #7 (RB#1) and #8 (RB #2) all are gone.
The total number of receptions for the other 4? 91 total and 72 of them went to the TEs. The WRs that have experience have a total of 19 catches between them.
On the RB front they have Trevor Speights who only averaged 3.7 yards per carry coming back and that's behind this senior-laden offensive line.
Take that away and he isn't going to be running for much.
So with Stanford you have receivers that only caught the ball 20 times, and a running back with a 3.7 ypc average running behind a totally new offensive line? And you guys think that somehow Stanford will continue to win?
Defensively of their top 12 in tackles 8 are seniors. 8.
They are losing their #1 LB, #2 LB, #4 DB, #6 DB, #7 DB, #9 DB, #10 DL, #11 LB, #12 LB.
All gone.
Out of their top 7 players in scoring they are losing 4 of them, and the 3 remaining. 1 is the kicker. They are left with just 2 players in theiir top scorers next year TE Colby Parkinson, and TE Kaden Smith.
I don't care what team it is. You aren't going to win if you are replacing 3/5th of an offensive line, your two best running backs, your two best WRs and 8 out of your top 12 in tackles.
You just aren't.
Stanford has won 7 (maybe 8/ maybe 9 in a bowl game) this year with a heavily senior laden team. That they are about ot lose entirely.
I do not see them going bowling next year.
They started the season ranked #13 by the AP. They are not even ranked at all right now. That kind of illustrates how Stanford's expectations were WAY overstated this year.
They barely beat UCLA (49-42, and they barely beat Oregon 38-31) with a heavily Senior loaded team.
The fall of Shaw is coming next year.
