"Serviceable?"Â Perhaps--if five projected two-deep guys get hurt.Â
Otherwise, this will be a terrific group. The four backs up are likely to be guys who would start for at least half the teams in the conference; Robinson and McCulloch, who might end up not even making the second unit, look like starters for that many, too.
The ceilings for Alfieri, Branch, Barton, Robinson, and McCulloch are crazy high, and Toohill has been very impressive already. Tyler is getting wicked off the edge. Alfieri is one of the ten best athletes at LB in the country. And that omits Kalamabayi, who is trending upward now--a light went on?--and a finally healthier Davis, speaking of terrific athletes, plus a improved and good ILB in Palma. Perez is a puzzle; freakish strength, not quite the speed, but there must be situations where he can help; short yardage and red zone D is a bet. And this still omits a four star kid in Okereke.
Barton and Branch put on stuff on their hs tapes we hadn't seen for any linebacker commits before them; now Robinson and the Shark have done that, too, and one better. At LB, these are the best of our times,
For sheer potential, this is like no group we've seen at Stanford.
Otherwise, this will be a terrific group. The four backs up are likely to be guys who would start for at least half the teams in the conference; Robinson and McCulloch, who might end up not even making the second unit, look like starters for that many, too.
The ceilings for Alfieri, Branch, Barton, Robinson, and McCulloch are crazy high, and Toohill has been very impressive already. Tyler is getting wicked off the edge. Alfieri is one of the ten best athletes at LB in the country. And that omits Kalamabayi, who is trending upward now--a light went on?--and a finally healthier Davis, speaking of terrific athletes, plus a improved and good ILB in Palma. Perez is a puzzle; freakish strength, not quite the speed, but there must be situations where he can help; short yardage and red zone D is a bet. And this still omits a four star kid in Okereke.
Barton and Branch put on stuff on their hs tapes we hadn't seen for any linebacker commits before them; now Robinson and the Shark have done that, too, and one better. At LB, these are the best of our times,
For sheer potential, this is like no group we've seen at Stanford.