Sports • Football The Victory Lap: Anthony Masifilo cements his name among the greats Stanford running Anthony Masifilo celebrates with his teammates after winning the national championship. (Photo: James Sooner/DS Photos) By Anthony Metcalf Published Jan. 13, 2032, 07:10 a.m.
Halfway through the season, it looked like Anthony Masifilo might be headed to the transfer portal. Despite entering the year as Stanford's most experienced running back and one of its more experienced players as a fourth-year junior, he had fallen behind two true freshmen in the pecking order of carries and touches and was dealing with injuries.
Since coming back from that injury that saw him miss four games, he's scored nine touchdowns in the most important four game stretch of the season, including rushing for at least 100 yards in all three playoff games before saving the best for last with his 230-yard performance in the national championship game.
As a true freshman, Masifilo appeared in all thirteen games for Stanford and rushed for 240 yards and two touchdowns and it looked like he was going to be a solid player for the Cardinal in Bubba Mack's first season. During the next portal, Stanford would bring in two more running backs in Trumaine Lasike and Jamarice Wilder that would push Masifilo further down the depth chart. A lot of kids would have transferred but Masifilo stuck it out, redshirting that year then becoming RB2 next season behind Lasike.
After patiently waiting his turn and then being skipped by true freshmen? A lot of players would have checked out of the season but Masifilo didn't and in turn, his name will forever be associated with the most accomplished Stanford team of modern college football.
2031 Stanford Cardinal All-Americans First Team
TE Colt Mixon (Fr)
S Angel Bass (R-Soph)
Second Team
CB J.T. Kipper (R-Sr)
Freshman
TE Colt Mixon (Fr)
2031 Stanford Cardinal All-Independent First Team
HB Rashawn Crouse (Soph)
WR Rodney Cookus (R-Jr)
TE Colt Mixon (Fr)
EDGE Percy Cadet (Soph)
LB Richard Caussin (R-Sr)
CB J.T. Kipper (R-Sr)
CB Kentrell Marvin (Soph)
S Angel Bass (R-Soph)
S Shaquille Duke (R-Sr)
Second Team
QB Earl Nienhuis (R-Soph)
HB Antohny Masifilo (R-Jr)
HB Trevon Winbush (Fr)
DT Shaquille Pullard (Jr)
DT Athya Shade (Sr)
LB Eric Levrone (R-Jr)
Freshman
HB Trevon Winbush (Fr)
HB Malik Marshall (Fr)
WR Timmy Neil (R-Fr)
TE Colt Mixon (Fr)
C Lawrence Hepburn (R-Fr)
S Jaron Azumah (Fr)
K Brian Vallos (R-Fr)
Team Stats
Scoring Offense: 45.8 PPG
Third Down Conversion: 58%
Fourth Down Conversion: 75%
Two Point Conversion: 0%
Red Zone Efficiency: 61%
Scoring Defense: 22.7 PAPG
Total Defense: 368.1 YPGA
Passing Defense: 295.2 YAPG
Rushing Defense: 72.9 YAPG
Sacks: 24
Fumbles: 1
Interceptions: 23
Editor's Note: Last year's betting totals are in. The winner, by percentage, was Caesar so a team of his choice will get a rating's bump and he will get to pick between being the commissioner of the SEC (3 games), Big Ten (3 games) or the Big XII (2 games). Second place was Captain Canada so he'll get to pick between the two remaining conferences. djp73 was third so he'll get the remaining conference for the upcoming season. The three will get to pick which teams from your conference I have to play next season. If you want more details about the teams, just let me know and I'll provide once I get to that stage of the offseason where teams are finalized and ratings are available.
Thank you to everyone redsox907ShireNinertoysoldier00YaBoyRobRoyJames that participated
SEC
2031: Florida, at LSU, at Georgia (cannot be selected in 2032)
B10
2031: Ohio State, at USC, at Oregon (cannot be selected in 2032)
Big XII
2031: Baylor, at TCU (cannot be selected in 2032)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach Firings Kirby Moore (Missouri OC) Jason Candle (Arizona State HC - fired) Isac Thielen (Kennesaw State HC) Tanner Schulters (James Madison HC) Brent Venables (Oklahoma State HC - fired) Kalani Sitake (Oregon State HC) Kenny Dillingham (Illinois HC - fired) Stephen Westbrooks (Louisiana Tech OC) Miguel Bajema (Sam Houston HC) Mike Norvell (Virginia Tech - fired) Josh Woerner (NFL DC) Kade Bell (Pittsburgh OC)
Orange Bowl standout D.J. Sapp enters the transfer portal along with two other Stanford quarterbacks
Chris Wallace -- 247Sports Stanford Football Insider
Stanford quarterback D.J. Sapp has entered the transfer portal, joining fellow backups LaMarcus Hook and Tevita Luck as the latest entries into the portal.
Sapp, a redshirt freshman, replaced quarterback Earl Nienhuis in the Orange Bowl against Clemson when he went down with an injury and threw three touchdowns. The Westlake Village native appeared in four games this season and enters the portal in hopes of competing for a starting job as Nienhuis is not expected to enter the NFL Draft as a redshirt sophomore. Star receiver Rodney Cookus is also returning for his senior year.
The Cardinal are also losing linebacker Kevin Macklin who played in all fifteen games this season as a true freshman, all on special teams. He was a three-star prospect coming out of high school.
Kirby Moore (Missouri OC)
Jason Candle (Arizona State HC - fired)
Isac Thielen (Kennesaw State HC)
Tanner Schulters (James Madison HC)
Brent Venables (Oklahoma State HC - fired)
Kalani Sitake (Oregon State HC)
Kenny Dillingham (Illinois HC - fired)
Stephen Westbrooks (Louisiana Tech OC)
Miguel Bajema (Sam Houston HC)
Mike Norvell (Virginia Tech - fired)
Josh Woerner (NFL DC)
Kade Bell (Pittsburgh OC)
