[MustardtheBallCarrier]

Just a quick thought as we all catch a breath before the next commitment announcement.

As has already been noted, this class seems unusually full of elite prospects with excellent academic credentials who are ready to make the commitment to Stanford immediately (reflecting, perhaps, their enthusiasm, their savvy understanding of how to build a class using the media, and their confidence in their academic credentials). Furthermore, a few guys who are either commited or seen as Stanford leans have noted that they have strongly considered Stanford for years. And the same long-term interest seems to be true for key members of the 2017 class. All of which got me thinking: is this a fluke? A perfect virtuous storm of Athletics and academics? Or something else?

Thinking back, this class would have entered HS in 2012, which was a very big year for the football program in a couple of ways: first Rose Bowl appearance in a generation, which followed a couple of earlier BCS Bowl appearances. Furthermore, it was Post-Luck and Harbaugh, indicating that the program success was more than simply the result of those two powerful individuals. And it was also the year of one of the most nationally noteworthy Stanford recruiting classes in history: the historic OL haul of Peat/Murphy/Ganett, et.al. Was this the year the term Nerd Nation was coined? And the taped Nerd Glasses? Perhaps those marketing gems came later. Richard Sherman (2011) and Andrew Luck (2012) had entered the NFL, becoming the national faces of the program.

Clearly Stanford recruiting has been on the upswing in recent years, and other factors besides those mentioned above (Duane Akina's appeal to DB recruits jumps immediately to mind and the hard work of coach Anderson) are factors as well. But students need to be well prepared for Stanford, focusing on their academics early enough to be ready for the AP classes, and prepped adequately to,score high enough on their SAT/ACT test to get admitted. Maybe we are finally seeing the long-term impact of sustained success, which has raised a whole generation of bright young athletes to begin thinking of Stanford, not when they are 16 or 17, but when they were 12 or 13 and could start really getting ready.

Great post.  For most recruits in this class, Stanford has been a national football power for as long as the recruits have been thinking about playing college football.  Amazing to think about for those of us who have been following Stanford football for decades.

Another factor that I haven't seen anyone mention, but I think is relevant, is the way that the modern, successful male athlete is presenting himself.  Especially in the NBA over the last few years, you see great players like Lebron, Durant, Westbrook, Howard, Wade, etc. wearing bold glasses and fashionable clothes off the court in what I take to be a response to the Iverson, Jason Williams streetball aesthetic, and an effort to break the dumb jock stereotype.  I think something as simple as the appearance of the athlete is reinforcing in kids that it is okay to be studious, serious and have passions beyond sports in the same way that the baggy shorts and black socks of the Fab Five shaped a whole generation of athletes.  I believe the Nerd Nation slogan and Stanford Athletes' comfort showing their nerdy sides on social media is a result of this shift.  Most importantly (for us), I think this shift in the perception of what it means to be an athlete has made Stanford much more attractive to potential recruits.

[MustardtheBallCarrier]

Just a quick thought as we all catch a breath before the next commitment announcement.

As has already been noted, this class seems unusually full of elite prospects with excellent academic credentials who are ready to make the commitment to Stanford immediately (reflecting, perhaps, their enthusiasm, their savvy understanding of how to build a class using the media, and their confidence in their academic credentials). Furthermore, a few guys who are either commited or seen as Stanford leans have noted that they have strongly considered Stanford for years. And the same long-term interest seems to be true for key members of the 2017 class. All of which got me thinking: is this a fluke? A perfect virtuous storm of Athletics and academics? Or something else?

Thinking back, this class would have entered HS in 2012, which was a very big year for the football program in a couple of ways: first Rose Bowl appearance in a generation, which followed a couple of earlier BCS Bowl appearances. Furthermore, it was Post-Luck and Harbaugh, indicating that the program success was more than simply the result of those two powerful individuals. And it was also the year of one of the most nationally noteworthy Stanford recruiting classes in history: the historic OL haul of Peat/Murphy/Ganett, et.al. Was this the year the term Nerd Nation was coined? And the taped Nerd Glasses? Perhaps those marketing gems came later. Richard Sherman (2011) and Andrew Luck (2012) had entered the NFL, becoming the national faces of the program.

Clearly Stanford recruiting has been on the upswing in recent years, and other factors besides those mentioned above (Duane Akina's appeal to DB recruits jumps immediately to mind and the hard work of coach Anderson) are factors as well. But students need to be well prepared for Stanford, focusing on their academics early enough to be ready for the AP classes, and prepped adequately to,score high enough on their SAT/ACT test to get admitted. Maybe we are finally seeing the long-term impact of sustained success, which has raised a whole generation of bright young athletes to begin thinking of Stanford, not when they are 16 or 17, but when they were 12 or 13 and could start really getting ready.

Great post.  For most recruits in this class, Stanford has been a national football power for as long as the recruits have been thinking about playing college football.  Amazing to think about for those of us who have been following Stanford football for decades.

Another factor that I haven't seen anyone mention, but I think is relevant, is the way that the modern, successful male athlete is presenting himself.  Especially in the NBA over the last few years, you see great players like Lebron, Durant, Westbrook, Howard, Wade, etc. wearing bold glasses and fashionable clothes off the court in what I take to be a response to the Iverson, Jason Williams streetball aesthetic, and an effort to break the dumb jock stereotype.  I think something as simple as the appearance of the athlete is reinforcing in kids that it is okay to be studious, serious and have passions beyond sports in the same way that the baggy shorts and black socks of the Fab Five shaped a whole generation of athletes.  I believe the Nerd Nation slogan and Stanford Athletes' comfort showing their nerdy sides on social media is a result of this shift.  Most importantly (for us), I think this shift in the perception of what it means to be an athlete has made Stanford much more attractive to potential recruits.