Class Superlatives For Stanford's 2024 Recruiting Class

On what is a fine Christmas Monday, Stanford fans should have a chance to not only have some holiday fun but also learn a bit more about the future of their program.

That is why I assembled superlatives for Stanford's 2024 recruiting class. It is a class that can help turn this program around, and will be one that in a few years we will look back on due to the fact that it is Troy Taylor's first recruiting class as head coach.

Let's dive into the superlatives!

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Class MVP: Elijah Brown

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When you have an offensive-minded coach and don't have consistent quarterback play as it is, landing a player from a premier program who is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks ever is a major get. Programs like USC, UCLA, Alabama, and Michigan all offered and pursued but Stanford was able to win out. Brown is also enrolling early, which will give him a chance to insert himself right into the thick of the quarterback battle.  

Needs More Attention: Chase Farrell

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Stanford found two young stars this past season in Elic Ayomanor and Tiger Bachmeier at receiver, but they need more receivers to step up as consistent playmakers. That is where Chase Farrell comes into play, as the three-star receiver has already been deemed the fastest player on the team without having set foot on campus, and he has shown the ability to stretch the field and create big plays. With speed like his, it'll be hard to keep him off the field. Don't be surprised if he is used in a role similar to his brother Bryce, who was used all over the field. 

Highest Ceiling: Benedict Umeh

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Benedict Umeh is the ultimate story of perseverance as he battled cancer during his senior season and was unable to suit up. While that is an accomplishment in itself, the four-star defensive lineman has the potential to be the next great defensive lineman for Stanford. While there are some experienced names ahead of him now, he too will enroll early, and will get the chance to work his way up the depth chart.

Biggest Win: Emmett Mosley

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Troy Taylor's offense needs more playmakers and big play threats and needs it now. That is exactly what a healthy Emmett Mosley can do, but as Taylor revealed, had Mosley not been able to enroll early they may have lost him. Stanford is slowly but surely adapting to the new world that is college football, and having early enrollees is a major part of it. Not to mention, both of Mosley's were athletes at Notre Dame, and UCLA was making a push as well. 

Biggest Flip: Chris Davis

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Stanford had a few major flips in this class with names like Bo Tate flipping from Baylor, and Javion Randall from Old Dominion. However, with the issues that this team had at running back both in terms of health and simply inability to make big plays, flipping Chris Davis from Ole Miss was the biggest flip of them all. He along with the other running backs in this class will have a chance to start right away, but for Stanford to go into Mississippi and steal a recruit from Ole Miss was quite the victory. 

Biggest Position Group Win: Offensive Line

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Stanford may be returning their entire offensive line in 2024, but that unit still needs to improve. They were inconsistent at pass blocking, and weren't able to establish the run which essentially limited the offense in a way that eliminated the running backs from getting the ball and making plays. Stanford went out and landed Kahlil House out of Georgia who is already 6-foot-5 300 pounds and Ziron Brown out of Mississippi who is around the same size. Joining them is Hayden Gunter who didn't allow a sack all season long in the state of Texas, and Connor Bachhuber who will grow into being a great tackle. They all will have to adjust to size and speed at the college level, but don't be shocked if you see a couple of them starting this year. 

Most Underrated: Benjamin Blackburn

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Stanford fans are well aware of the success that the program has had at the tight end position and are always looking for the next elite Cardinal tight end. With Benjamin Yurosek transferring, the Cardinal have Sam Roush ready and waiting to step in. However, they also added Benjamin Blackburn out of Miami who was a late bloomer that exploded this season. He went from having 11 catches in his first two years combined to having 42 catches for 708 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior season. Standing in at 6-foot-6 but having some decent speed, he will be a matchup nightmare for linebackers and also showed a willingness to block in the run game. He may end up being a contributor sooner rather than later. 

Breakout Candidates: Cam Richardson and Brandon Nicholson

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Stanford replaced their entire secondary from the 2022 season and will return everyone who started this season in 2024. However, that doesn't mean that those spots are locked up by any means. Stanford brought in two recruits in the secondary who stand out as having the potential to be impact players that no one was expecting. Starting with Richardson, he is an early enrollee and in the past couple of seasons, we have seen early enrollees shine right away for Stanford. He shows an ability to read plays quite well, and is also a willing tackler. Enrolling early will help him gain the strength he needs to see the field, and as for Nicholson, he is a true ball-hawk. Stanford needs to force more turnovers, and Nicholson has shown the ability to frequently cause them, racking up 13 career picks.