[CTcard]

Stanford's outgoing transfer losses in 2020 were BRUTAL and totally uncharacteristic compared to prior years (or 2021).  Costello, Hamilton, Hattis, Powell, Williams, and Swann all started most or all of the games for their team (and Eboh started a game for UCLA).  You can explain some of those departures, as some of those guys might not have started for Stanford, but the number and quality of departing players seemed to suggest a loss of confidence in the program.  I hope Shaw has righted the program and that a similar spate of depatures doesn't happen again.  But I also think Stanford's situation that year shows that there can be opportunity on the transfer portal, sometimes at the expense of a program that's faltering.  Maybe like the situation at kal now.  Stanford can't rely on filling a particular need whenever a gap in recruiting happens, but it can and should try to get a quality player via transfer here and there.  Brennan Scarlett was a bit of a unicorn, but less elite players still could make a difference.  And Stanford always has room within the 85 scholarship limit, so that is one advantage compared to some other schools.

A rundown of the six you mention:
Costello started first five games for Mississippi State then got benched mid-game 5 and for the rest of the season.
Hamilton started all 11 games for Duke.
Hattis started all 4 games for ASU, is back this year.
Powell started 4 of 8 games for Indiana, is back this year.
Swann started 1 of 8 games for Indiana.
Williams started 4 of 8 games for SMU.

Swann and Williams seemed most likely to have been starters at Stanford in 2020, but didn't exactly set the world on fire with their new teams.
(Williams had 6 tackles, 0 TFL; Swann had 4 tackles, 0 TFL)
The OL is more curious. None seemed clear to start at Stanford in 2020, but all did well with their new teams. That might not say anything good about coaching at Stanford, but it's not simple to sort out.

Not clear that these people graduating then starting graduate school and playing football at another school necessarily indicates a loss of confidence in the program. Of course it might, and it is not possible that coming off a 4-8 season leaves anything other than a bad taste in one's mouth.
But I want Stanford to run a program that has players graduate and then helps them find a next step that they like.

[CTcard]

Stanford's outgoing transfer losses in 2020 were BRUTAL and totally uncharacteristic compared to prior years (or 2021).  Costello, Hamilton, Hattis, Powell, Williams, and Swann all started most or all of the games for their team (and Eboh started a game for UCLA).  You can explain some of those departures, as some of those guys might not have started for Stanford, but the number and quality of departing players seemed to suggest a loss of confidence in the program.  I hope Shaw has righted the program and that a similar spate of depatures doesn't happen again.  But I also think Stanford's situation that year shows that there can be opportunity on the transfer portal, sometimes at the expense of a program that's faltering.  Maybe like the situation at kal now.  Stanford can't rely on filling a particular need whenever a gap in recruiting happens, but it can and should try to get a quality player via transfer here and there.  Brennan Scarlett was a bit of a unicorn, but less elite players still could make a difference.  And Stanford always has room within the 85 scholarship limit, so that is one advantage compared to some other schools.

A rundown of the six you mention:
Costello started first five games for Mississippi State then got benched mid-game 5 and for the rest of the season.
Hamilton started all 11 games for Duke.
Hattis started all 4 games for ASU, is back this year.
Powell started 4 of 8 games for Indiana, is back this year.
Swann started 1 of 8 games for Indiana.
Williams started 4 of 8 games for SMU.

Swann and Williams seemed most likely to have been starters at Stanford in 2020, but didn't exactly set the world on fire with their new teams.
(Williams had 6 tackles, 0 TFL; Swann had 4 tackles, 0 TFL)
The OL is more curious. None seemed clear to start at Stanford in 2020, but all did well with their new teams. That might not say anything good about coaching at Stanford, but it's not simple to sort out.

Not clear that these people graduating then starting graduate school and playing football at another school necessarily indicates a loss of confidence in the program. Of course it might, and it is not possible that coming off a 4-8 season leaves anything other than a bad taste in one's mouth.
But I want Stanford to run a program that has players graduate and then helps them find a next step that they like.