Carter, Cajuste make draft decisions
A pair of Stanford players made decisions about their football futures following the Foster Farms Bowl.
As expected, junior cornerback Alex Carter announced his intention to enter April's NFL Draft. Carter could be selected somewhere in the draft's first two rounds.
"I talked it over with my family, and we decided it's time," he
told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I love these boys. It was great playing with them, and I'll miss them."
"It's been an honor to compete alongside my teammates and brothers at Stanford, and represent the University on and off the field," Carter added in
a statement posted on Stanford's official website. "This was a difficult decision, and I have put much thought into it with my family and mentors. I would like to extend my deepest thanks and gratitude to my coaches, professors, and the Stanford family for putting me in the position to achieve my lifelong dream of playing in the NFL."
Yesterday, Stanford's 2015 offense received a major boost when top wide receiver Devon Cajuste announced his plans to return to The Farm for his fifth year of eligibility.
I have decided that I am both proud and excited to spend one more season as a student-athlete at Stanford. Lets do it!
#StanU— Devon Cajuste (@speedracer13193)
December 31, 2014What it means
Although expected, Carter's departure is a major blow to a secondary that will be low on experienced talent in 2015. Though he did not have gaudy interception totals, Carter was a three-year starter who did a terrific job in coverage and run support, and rarely left the field for Stanford's defense. He had the physicality and speed to hang with the top receivers in the Pac-12. He was, in a word, a rock for Stanford, dating back to his junior year of high school when he surprised some by committing to the Cardinal over Notre Dame, his father's alma mater. It will be difficult to fully quantify the impact of Carer's departure until Wayne Lyons announces a decision on whether to enter the draft. Even then, if Lyons does return, he could be moved to safety in spring ball. So there is plenty still to be determined about the composition of Stanford's secondary next year.
Either way, Stanford's touted group of young defensive backs - the Cardinal signed five in the 2014 recruiting class - will be needed to play major minutes in 2015. The likes of Terrence Alexander, Alameen Murphy and Brandon Simmons could assume prominent roles in the secondary. What is expected to be a strong incoming class of defensive backs could also contribute.
Cajuste's return bolsters a Stanford offense which finished the 2014 season on a high note. The Cardinal averaged 38 points over their final three games - all wins - and in the process provided legitimate reason for optimism on that side of the ball moving forward.Cajuste finished the 2014 season second on the team in receiving yards and first in touchdown receptions. His 16.4 yards per carry average was tops among Stanford receivers.
With Cajuste back, Stanford will return all of its top receiving weapons except for Ty Montgomery. That's no small loss, of course - Montgomery was one of the top playmakers in the Pac-12 - but Stanford showed it could survive - and thrive - without him in the final three games of the year.
Cajuste will team with Michael Rector and Francis Owusu (and possibly Jordan Pratt, depending on whether he opts to return for a fifth year) to form an experienced receiving corps. Stanford's incoming freshmen -
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and possibly
Trent Irwin - could also contribute. (Irwin in particular is regarded as one of the most college-ready receivers in the 2015 class. It seems likely that he would be a part of Stanford's wide receiver rotation next year should he choose the Cardinal.)
Stanford's tight end position is perhaps even deeper. The Cardinal return their trio of redshirt freshman tight ends (Austin Hooper, Greg Taboada and Eric Cotton), and will add Dalton Schultz, who redshirted this year, to the rotation.
The Cardinal will also have terrific size in the passing game. All four of Stanford's projected top tight ends stand at least 6-foot-4, Cajuste is 6-foot-4, Owusu is 6-foot-3, Pratt is 6-foot-3, Arcega-Whiteside is listed at 6-foot-3, and Rector is 6-foot-1.
Stanford's benefited from its bog bodies in the passing game against Maryland on numerous occasions. Stanford exploited the middle of the field with its tight ends, and hit Cajuste twice in the red zone for a pair of scores.
Combine the wide receivers and tight ends with Christian McCaffrey, who has shown the ability to stretch the field horizontally out of the backfield, and Stanford's passing game should be as versatile and potent in 2015 as it has been in the last several years. The Cardinal has weapons who thrive in the short, intermediate, and downfield passing game.
The only unknown is who will be throwing the passes - quarterback Kevin Hogan has yet to announce a decision about his future. One is expected soon.