Gap Down Backer.

[Soapy]

Stanford Football: 2032 Cardinal Season Preview and Prediction
Athlon Sports Staff Writer • 8 min read

Head coach: Bubba Mack (5th year)
Offensive Coordinator: Richard Wiley (5th year)
Defensive Coordinator: Brian Stewart (5th year)
2031 record: 14-1 (National Champions)
Preseason All-American: None
Preseason All-Independent: HB Anthony Masifilo (first), WR Rodney Cookus (first), T D.J. Baas (first), G Wayne Hoffman (first), C Lawrence Hepburn (first), DT James Mankins (first), CB Kentrell Marvin, P D.J. Ball (first), QB Earl Nienhuis (second), HB Rashawn Crouse (second), HB Malik Marshall (second), WR Alfonso Bramble (second), EDGE Percy Cadet (second), DT Shaquille Pullard (second), LB James Gattis (second), LB Eric Levrone, CB Paul Garrison (second), K Brian Vallos (second)

After losing to the eventual national champions in back-to-back seasons, the Stanford Cardinal broke through last year, winning the national championship in dominant fashion as they survived their brutal schedule which featured eight pre-season top twenty five matchups. The tough schedule, which returns this season with their agreements with the Big Ten and SEC specifically, helped prepare Stanford for the post-season as they were able to withstand the grind of the playoffs, blowing teams out and finding their grooves.

They'll look to repeat and become the first team since Georgia in 2022 to repeat as national champions.

Previewing Stanford's Offense for 2032
For the time time in Bubba Mack's tenure as head coach at Stanford, the Cardinal return a starting quarterback in Earl Nienhuis. The former Wake Forest transfer turned out to be one of the better quarterbacks in the country last year, throwing for 3,746 yards and forty-four touchdowns while completing 74 percent of his passes.

He'll look to play himself into first round contention as his top pass catchers also returned in Rodney Cookus, Alfonso Bramble and Colt Mixon.

The story of the offense are the Four Horsemen with Anthony Masifilo, Rashawn Crouse, Malik Marshall and Trevon Winbush at running back. Crouse was the lead back for most of last year but in the playoffs, it was Masifilo who emerged as RB1. With Marshall and Winbush as the future with two years of eligibility left, the rotation will be interesting to monitor as the Cardinal have done a good job over the years of keeping everyone involved and happy.

The offensive line loses some key pieces in Jalen Freeman and Shaq Marks but due to injury last year, many of the returning players got plenty of action. The biggest question marks are on the left side with D.J. Bass, the talented but unproven redshirt senior who missed most of last year with an injury and struggled when he was on the field after being a high profile transfer and left guard remains a mystery heading into fall camp.

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Previewing Stanford's Defense for 2032
Stanford's slowly pieced together a defense that was good enough last year but questions remain and new ones have risen regarding this unit.

In the secondary, they return Kentrell Marvin and Angel Bass, two of their top players from last year but that's about it. Guys like Benjamin Streeter, Jaron Azumah and Mike Thomas are elevating into bigger roles while transfers Paul Garrison, Greg Dillard and Gordon Pratt were added to the cornerback room to help buoy a position group that lost two veteran starters.

The front seven isn't loaded with stars either. Percy Cadey has a ton of potential but hasn't made the jump from solid pass rusher to game wrecker while transfer David Drake will look to build off a forgettable freshman year at Maryland that resulted with nine tackles.

The interior of the defense is where the experience lies with James Mankins, Shaquille Pullard and Cameron Drake returning at defensive tackle while James Gattis and Eric Levrone lead the pack at linebacker.

Schedule (2031 record)
#17 Houston (10-4, 7-1 Big XII)
#15 Michigan (9-4, 5-3 Big Ten)
#5 Missouri (13-2, 7-1)
Fresno State (9-5, 6-2 Pac-12)
OPEN
at #20 Notre Dame (8-5)
at #13 Alabama (9-4, 4-4 SEC)
#22 Tennessee (9-4, 5-3 SEC)
New Mexico (7-6, 5-3 MWC)
#7 Miami (11-3, 7-1 Big Ten)
at #16 SMU (10-4, 7-1 Big XII)
at California (8-5, 6-2 Pac 12)
at #3 Penn State (11-2, 7-1 Big Ten)

Stanford doesn't go on the road until October and it comes after the bye to South Bend to play Notre Dame before traveling to Tuscaloosa the next week. They have a tough but manageable start to the schedule otherwise with games against Houston and Michigan that are ranked matchups but games they'll be favored in before they take on Missouri in a preseason top-five matchup.

After Alabama, the schedule lightens a bit with Tennessee, New Mexico, and Cal sandwiching back-to-back games against Miami and SMU, their former and brief ACC foes. They end the season on the road against Penn State in what could be a poor weather game and will likely have major playoff implications.

Projected Final Record: 10-2

It's hard to pick a game where Stanford won't be favored in, potentially at Penn State and at Alabama, depending on how the Tide start the season. They play their toughest games, Missouri and Miami, at home and then get to play Penn State at the end of the season which could be seen as a quasi playoff game.

The season does begin with five ranked matchups in their first seven games so a stumble against someone like Houston or rival Notre Dame is possible but with nine ranked opponents, even a stumble or two, will allow Stanford the benefit of the doubt in the eye of the committee as long as they handle business elsewhere with plenty of opportunity to strengthen their resume.

[Captain Canada]

That is a fucking big boy schedule. Can only really see one or two games where you might get caught lacking.

[Soapy]

That is a fucking big boy schedule. Can only really see one or two games where you might get caught lacking.

[Caesar]

Time to show us you tough fn

[Soapy]

Time to show us you tough fn

defending national champions fn

[Soapy]

Week 0 Top Stories
Hurricanes open the season with a 42-31 win over rival Notre Dame
Texas Tech survives fourth quarter scare against Fresno State
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Week 1 Notable Games
#9 Ohio State (0-0, 0-0) at #6 Georgia (0-0, 0-0)
#17 Houston (0-0, 0-0) at #4 Stanford (0-0, 0-0)
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Players of the Week
WR George Ogunleye: W 48-27 at Utah State » 7 Rec, 128 Yd,s 3 TD
CB Moses Trewyn: W 37-21 at Vanderbilt » 9 Tkl, INT, PBU, FF
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247Sports Five-Star Commitments
None

[Soapy]

Stanford releases first official depth chart ahead opener against Houston
Chris Wallace -- 247Sports Stanford Football Insider

The Stanford Cardinal have released their official depth charter for the opener against Houston when the defending national champions will host former Stanford quarterback Alex Rowe and the Houston Cougars.

Notably, Anthony Masifilo is listed as the lone starter at running back after being a co-starter last year with Rashawn Crouse. Masifilo stared in the playoffs and was the National Championship Game MVP and heads into this season as the feature back although all four running backs are expected to be part of the rotation.

Rodney Cookus returns as the top receiver with Alfonso Bramble in the slot for the third straight season but there is a new name to the starting lineup in Shaquille Knight, the transfer from UConn that came in without much fanfare. Knight, who has played in 36 games for UConn without a single reception, impressed the coaching staff in the spring and was a standout, carrying that momentum into fall camp where he was able to earn a starting spot at outside receiver after many expected him to be competing for a backup spot behind Bramble in the slot.

Junior Joe Nunn won the right tackle job, beating out sophomore Carl Shakir who started as a true freshman last year. Wayne Hoffman starts at left guard, giving the Cardinal an experienced left side of the offensive line with two seniors in Hoffman and D.J. Baas who will look to stay healthy and play himself into a draft pick.

On defense, Salesi Overstreet starts opposite of Percy Cadey at EDGE while true freshman Darren Calmelat is featured on the two-deep at linebacker behind James Gattis with Eric Levrone returning as a starter. Paul Garrison and Greg Dillard, the two transfers, are the outside corners as Kentrell Marvin remains at nickel where he's started for the last two seasons.

At safety, Angel Bass is paired with a pair of co-starters in Jaron Azumah and converted cornerback Benjamin Streeter with Mike Thomas, similar to last season, figuring into the rotation as well as true freshman Marco Stick.

2032 Stanford Cardinal Depth Chart
Quarterback
#12 Earl Nienhuis • Rs Junior • 6'3", 222LBS • 92 OVR, 81 SPD, 77 ACC, 82 AWR, 95 THP, 94 SAC, 89 MAC, 89 DAC
#6 Logan Everett • Rs Sophomore • 6'5", 219LBS • 91 OVR, 77 SPD, 81 ACC, 79 AWR, 95 THP, 94 SAC, 89 MAC, 87 DAC
#11 JaMichael Jackson • Rs Freshman • 6'3", 193LBS • 82 OVR, 82 SPD, 87 ACC, 72 AWR, 94 THP, 79 SAC, 79 MAC, 67 DAC
#13 Leon Shurmur • Rs Freshman • 6'0", 213LBS • 80 OVR, 80 SPD, 82 ACC, 88 ACC, 71 AWR, 87 THP, 83 SAC, 74 MAC, 68 DAC
#18 Danny Roldan • Freshman • 6'4", 200LBS • 67 OVR, 67 SPD, 78 ACC, 66 AWR, 87 THP, 79 SAC, 74 MAC, 71 DAC

Running Back
#4 Anthony Masifilo • Rs Senior • 5'11", 188LBS • 92 OVR, 98 SPD, 99 ACC, 93 COD, 81 CAR, 73 BTK, 86 JKM, 82 CTH
#3 Rashawn Crouse • Junior • 6'0", 200LBS • 91 OVR, 87 SPD, 90 ACC, 88 COD, 86 CAR, 85 BTK, 84 TRK, 80 SFA OR
#0 Malik Marshall • Sophomore • 6'0", 186LBS • 87 OVR, 88 SPD, 93 ACC, 88 COD, 79 CAR, 85 BTK, 87 TRK, 82 SFA OR
#9 Trevon Winbush • Sophomore • 5'10", 179LBS • 83 OVR, 90 SPD, 93 ACC, 89 COD, 79 CAR, 72 SPM, 77 JKM

Wide Receiver
X
#1 Rodney Cookus • Rs Senior • 6'4", 200LBS • 91 OVR, 96 SPD, 97 ACC, 83 COD, 86 CTH, 99 RLS
#5 Kyle Morrison • Junior • 6'1", 213LBS • 81 OVR, 89 SPD, 90 ACC, 84 COD, 88 CTH, 84 RLS
#85 Kionte Keo • Freshman • 6'4", 191LBS • 68 OVR, 86 SPD, 88 ACC, 76 COD, 79 CTH, 77 RLS

Z
#2 Shaquille Knight • Senior • 5'9", 185LBS • 85 OVR, 97 SPD, 96 ACC, 89 COD, 82 CTH, 91 RLS
#16 Timmy Neil • Rs Sophomore • 5'11", 209LBS • 87 OVR, 87 SPD, 91 ACC, 97 COD, 85 CTH, 81 RLS
#15 Shawn Butler • Rs Sophomore • 6'1", 198LBS • 76 OVR, 92 SPD, 92 ACC, 86 COD, 74 CTH, 80 RLS

F
#7 Alfonso Bramble • Junior • 5'7", 178LBS • 88 OVR, 87 SPD, 91 ACC, 96 COD, 86 CTH, 80 CIT
#8 Damien Yeboah • Freshman • 5'9", 171LBS • 78 OVR, 89 SPD, 89 ACC, 86 COD, 77 CTH, 79 CIT
#14 Shaquille Zimmons • Sophomore • 5'9", 172LBS • 69 OVR, 85 SPD, 90 ACC, 80 COD, 73 CTH, 81 CIT
#88 Adrian Madden • Freshman • 5'9", 175LBS • 68 OVR, 88 SPD, 88 ACC, 79 COD, 71 CTH, 74 CIT

Tight End
#81 Colt Mixon • Sophomore • 6'2", 223LBS • 71 OVR, 86 SPD, 86 ACC, 78 COD, 81 CTH, 69 RBK
#86 Fredrick Parker • Junior • 6'5", 251LBS • 67 OVR, 78 SPD, 78 ACC, 74 COD, 79 CTH, 68 RBK
#87 Dillon Forsett • Rs Sophomore • 6'5", 199LBS • 77 OVR, 78 SPD, 72 ACC, 69 COD, 84 CTH, 56 RBK

Offensive Line
LT #74 D.J. Baas • Rs Senior • 6'6", 302LBS • 95 OVR, 89 STR, 89 PBK, 87 RBK
LT #67 Ashton Bayless • Freshman • 6'5", 284LBS • 80 OVR, 83 STR, 83 PBK, 67 RBK
LT #69 Dexter Winbush • Rs Sophomore • 6'7", 311LBS • 81 OVR, 94 STR, 82 PBK, 77 RBK

LG #60 Wayne Hoffman • Rs Senior • 6'1", 300LBS • 91 OVR, 77 STR, 90 PBK, 79 RBK
LG #50 Jared March • Rs Junior • 6'4", 322LBS • 82 OVR, 84 STR, 76 PBK, 76 RBK
LG #52 Emari Cashman • Freshman • 6'3", 319LBS • 78 OVR, 83 STR, 79 PBK, 81 RBK

C #77 Lawrence Hepburn • Rs Sophomore • 6'5", 297LBS • 91 OVR, 96 STR, 71 PBK, 87 RBK
C #63 Jeffrey Redman • Rs Freshman • 6'1", 289LBS • 82 OVR, 87 STR, 70 PBK, 79 RBK
C #57 Alex DiMarco • Freshman • 6'3", 276LBS • 79 OVR, 84 STR, 83 PBK, 67 RBK

RG #51 Shontrelle Madu • Rs Junior • 6'4", 308LBS • 88 OVR, 82 STR, 80 PBK, 88 RBK
RG #53 Brian Ireland • Freshman • 6'2", 288LBS • 78 OVR, 92 STR, 70 PBK, 73 RBK
RG #65 Joseph Paschal • Rs Freshman • 6'2", 286LBS • 77 OVR, 87 STR, 68 PBK, 68 RBK

RT #68 Joe Nunn • Junior • 6'7", 294LBS • 85 OVR, 90 STR, 75 PBK, 79 RBK
RT #70 Carl Shakir • Sophomore • 6'7", 313LBS • 85 OVR, 95 STR, 76 PBK, 74 RBK
RT #66 Cole Schlesinger • Freshman • 6'6", 321LBS • 79 OVR, 82 STR, 82 PBK, 62 RBK
RT #73 James Bitonio • Freshman • 6'7", 290LBS • 71 OVR, 75 STR, 81 PBK, 71 RBK
RT #79 Joseph Kellum • Rs Sophomore • 6'7", 323LBS • 79 OVR, 73 STR, 80 PBK, 86 RBK

Defensive Line
DE
#13 Cameron Drake • Junior • 6'1", 286LBS • 83 OVR, 77 ACC, 91 STR, 88 PMV, 56 FMV, 73 BSH

NT
#16 Shaquille Pullard • Senior • 6'3", 296LBS • 84 OVR, 84 ACC, 91 STR, 77 PMV, 89 FMV, 72 BSH
#33 David Okuayinonu • Sophomore • 6'4", 297LBS • 83 OVR, 92 STR, 92 PMV, 57 FMV, 72 BSH

DT
#19 James Mankins • Rs Senior • 6'4", 285LBS • 81 OVR, 82 ACC, 90 STR, 88 PMV, 55 FMV, 73 BSH OR
#95 Tim Bing, Junior • 6'4", 285LBS • 81 OVR, 80 ACC, 91 STR, 67 PMV, 93 FMV, 70 BSH

Linebacker
JACK
#0 Percy Cadet • Junior • 6'3", 242LBS • 88 OVR, 86 SPD, 89 ACC, 84 STR, 87 PMV, 91 FMV, 73 BSH
#54 Amar'e Tull • Rs Junior • 6'6", 235LBS • 83 OVR, 83 SPD, 91 ACC, 78 STR, 83 PMV, 65 FMV, 68 BSH
#99 Kevin Pagel • Rs Sophomore • 6'6", 247LBS • 77 OVR, 72 SPD, 76 ACC, 78 STR, 88 PMV, 55 FMV, 81 BSH
#98 Bradley Turbin, Freshman • 6'2", 223LBS • 67 OVR, 62 SPD, 75 ACC, 82 STR, 63 PMV, 50 FMV, 86 BSH

MIKE
#55 James Gattis • Senior • 6'3", 243LBS • 89 OVR, 81 SPD, 91 ACC, 78 COD, 87 TKL, 90 BSH, 69 MCV, 79 ZCV
#3 Darren Calmelat • Freshman • 6'4", 222LBS • 78 OVR, 81 SPD, 91 ACC, 79 COD, 78 TKL, 81 BSH, 66 MCV, 80 ZCV
#44 Chester Oordt • Rs Junior • 5'11", 225LBS • 80 OVR, 86 SPD, 90 ACC, 78 COD, 87 TKL, 80 BSH, 71 MCV, 79 ZCV
#43 Kenyon Stacy • Freshman • 6'0", 227LBS • 66 OVR, 79 SPD, 82 ACC, 77 COD, 80 TKL, 72 BSH, 66 MCV, 70 ZCV

WILL
#6 Eric LeVrone • Rs Senior • 6'2", 244LBS • 85 OVR, 81 SPD, 87 ACC, 76 COD, 88 TKL, 82 BSH, 77 MCV, 84 ZCV
#30 Taylor Bagent • Rs Sophomore • 6'2", 213LBS • 80 OVR, 85 SPD, 93 ACC, 88 COD, 79 TKL, 70 BSH, 73 MCV, 79 ZCV
#41 Conor McCune • Rs Sophomore • 6'0", 213LBS • 76 OVR, 80 SPD, 88 ACC, 80 COD, 80 TKL, 76 BSH, 62 MCV, 86 ZCV
#50 Anthony Robbins • Rs Sophomore • 6'1", 232LBS • 79 OVR, 75 SPD, 86 ACC, 85 TKL, 88 BSH, 61 MCV, 80 ZCV
#11 Stephen Flott • Freshman • 6'3", 219LBS • 68 OVR, 79 SPD, 88 ACC, 75 COD, 76 TKL, 75 BSH, 54 MCV, 80 ZCV
#56 Derek Worthy • Freshman • 6'1", 225LBS • 65 OVR, 80 SPD, 82 ACC, 75 COD, 77 TKL, 73 BSH, 68 MCV, 66 ZCV

SAM
#52 Salesi Overstreet • Rs Junior • 6'4", 291LBS • 82 OVR, 88 SPD, 93 ACC, 87 STR, 85 PMV, 67 FMV, 72 BSH
#2 David Drake • Sophomore • 6'6", 274LBS • 82 OVR, 84 SPD, 88 ACC, 91 STR, 79 PMV, 79 FMV, 72 BSH
#90 Tremaine Dalton • Rs Sophomore • 6'6", 250LBS • 74 OVR, 80 SPD, 80 ACC, 87 STR, 79 PMV, 71 FMV, 61 BSH
#92 Willie Rudolph • Freshman • 6'3", 292LBS • 74 OVR, 83 SPD, 86 ACC, 86 STR, 75 PMV, 76 FMV, 68 BSH

Secondary
CB
#4 Paul Garrison • Rs Senior • 6'2", 170LBS • 85 OVR, 86 SPD, 89 ACC, 99 COD, 87 MCV, 85 ZCV, 85 PRESS
#8 Gordon Pratt • Senior • 6'2", 181LBS • 78 OVR, 85 SPD, 96 ACC, 99 COD, 79 MCV, 74 ZCV, 76 PRESS
#28 Howie Whitaker • Freshman • 5'10", 170LBS • 67 OVR, 84 SPD, 88 ACC, 81 COD, 68 MCV, 76 ZCV, 63 PRESS

CB
#21 Greg Dillard • Rs Senior • 5'10", 200LBS • 80 OVR, 87 SPD, 85 ACC, 99 COD, 82 MCV, 79 ZCV, 84 PRESS
#12 Juan Becht • Junior • 6'2", 160LBS • 78 OVR, 86 SPD, 88 ACC, 94 COD, 81 MCV, 73 ZCV, 89 PRESS

Nickel
#1 Kentrell Marvin • Junior • 6'1", 202LBS • 90 OVR, 93 SPD, 94 ACC, 96 COD, 88 MCV, 88 ZCV, 82 PRESS
#26 Antwan Weeks • Rs Junior • 6'0", 199LBS • 74 OVR, 87 SPD, 90 ACC, 85 COD, 74 MCV, 85 ZCV, 68 PRESS
#23 Trevante Punga • Rs Freshman • 5'9", 182LBS • 74 OVR, 84 SPD, 88 ACC, 91 COD, 81 MCV, 74 ZCV, 73 PRESS

FS
#5 Angel Bass • Rs Junior • 6'1", 184LBS • 83 OVR, 93 SPD, 94 ACC, 96 COD, 71 MCV, 83 ZCV, 67 TKL
#7 Mike Thomas • Rs Junior • 6'3", 234LBS • 76 OVR, 88 SPD, 86 ACC, 87 COD, 71 MCV, 80 ZCV, 86 TKL
#24 Franklin Larue • Rs Sophomore • 6'0", 185LBS • 77 OVR, 87 SPD, 88 ACC, 96 COD, 74 MCV, 78 ZCV, 68 TKL
#10 Nasir Breaston • Freshman • 6'2", 188LBS • 76 OVR, 87 SPD, 91 ACC, 85 COD, 77 MCV, 72 ZCV, 74 TKL
#14 Emanuel Araiza • Sophomore • 5'10", 186LBS • 66 OVR, 85 SPD, 86 ACC, 79 COD, 70 MCV, 76 ZCV, 76 TKL

SS
#9 Benjamin Streeter • Rs Junior • 5'10", 165LBS • 84 OVR, 87 SPD, 89 ACC, 93 COD, 78 MCV, 84 ZCV, 82 TKL OR
#25 Jaron Azumah • Sophomore • 6'2", 224LBS • 78 OVR, 91 SPD, 85 ACC, 82 COD, 69 MCV, 78 ZCV, 91 TKL
#17 Marco Stick • Freshman • 6'0", 203LBS • 75 OVR, 88 SPD, 88 ACC, 84 COD, 79 MCV, 72 ZCV, 73 TKL
#22 Mike Cologne • Senior • 5'9", 198LBS • 70 OVR, 88 SPD, 86 ACC, 79 COD, 72 MCV, 81 ZCV, 67 TKL
#27 Joey Ahlers • Freshman • 5'11", 239LBS • 70 OVR, 89 SPD, 89 ACC, 84 COD, 63 MCV, 76 ZCV, 79 TKL

Special Team
K #16 Brian Vallos • Rs Sophomore • 81 OVR, 91 KPW, 89 KAC
P #11 D.J. Ball • Rs Sophomore • 83 OVR, 93 KPW, 84 KAC

[toysoldier00]

I think we should be talking Nienheisman