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Our acute need, however, is for inside and outside linebackers, and we've no one there yet.  Davis has only a year left, Palma just two.  Barton could be great, Jordan Fox is a question mark, and Branch, Perez and Okereke all leave at once, three seasons from now.  On the outside, we have several more years of Tyler, Alfieri and Robinson, perhaps a great three some, but that's it after Kalambayi graduates next year, unless Lane Veach shows more very soon.

I don't think the need is as dire as you portray it.  The staff has a head start because Gabe Reid is scheduled to return from an LDS mission next year.  The 2016 class is not numerous, but Robinson is really elite, and I think Fox may be under-rated given his offers from Georgia, Miami, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.  Also, based on what I've heard, the staff hasn't really whiffed on many guys in the last 2 classes, except maybe Veach.  The 2015 class is a good size as it includes a speedy 4-star recruit (Barton) and two more guys who have gotten good reviews relative to their rating (Branch and Toohill (who I think you confused with Tyler)).  The 2014 class won't be around forever, but all of them used a redshirt, two of them were unanimous 4-star recruits and Perez earned a fair amount of playing time for a moderately recruited player in only his second season. 

With all that said, I do see some need at LB.  Jaelan Phillips probably is the guy who Stanford fans should covet the most this year.  His hudl film is worth a watch.  He's just incredible.  Plus, he's a California kids who reports a 4.1 GPA.  Beyond that, the LB pool is a little iffy, unfortunately. 

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Our acute need, however, is for inside and outside linebackers, and we've no one there yet.  Davis has only a year left, Palma just two.  Barton could be great, Jordan Fox is a question mark, and Branch, Perez and Okereke all leave at once, three seasons from now.  On the outside, we have several more years of Tyler, Alfieri and Robinson, perhaps a great three some, but that's it after Kalambayi graduates next year, unless Lane Veach shows more very soon.

I don't think the need is as dire as you portray it.  The staff has a head start because Gabe Reid is scheduled to return from an LDS mission next year.  The 2016 class is not numerous, but Robinson is really elite, and I think Fox may be under-rated given his offers from Georgia, Miami, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.  Also, based on what I've heard, the staff hasn't really whiffed on many guys in the last 2 classes, except maybe Veach.  The 2015 class is a good size as it includes a speedy 4-star recruit (Barton) and two more guys who have gotten good reviews relative to their rating (Branch and Toohill (who I think you confused with Tyler)).  The 2014 class won't be around forever, but all of them used a redshirt, two of them were unanimous 4-star recruits and Perez earned a fair amount of playing time for a moderately recruited player in only his second season. 

With all that said, I do see some need at LB.  Jaelan Phillips probably is the guy who Stanford fans should covet the most this year.  His hudl film is worth a watch.  He's just incredible.  Plus, he's a California kids who reports a 4.1 GPA.  Beyond that, the LB pool is a little iffy, unfortunately.