Dalman talks Stanford commitment
2017 Palma High School offensive lineman Drew Dalman spent days in his youth on the Cardinal football program's practice fields running alongside Stanford players. Dalman tagged along at times as his father, Chris, coached the Cardinal offensive linemen in 2007 and 2008.
Nearly a decade later and Drew Dalman's football life has come full circle. The Cardinal gridiron legacy (Chris played at Stanford in addition to coaching there) committed to Stanford earlier this week after learning that he had been admitted to the school.
"(David Shaw) shot me a text and told me to give him a call when I could," Drew Dalman said. "I called him and he let me know that my application was accepted, and that's all I needed to hear as far as that goes."
"(Coach Shaw) was excited. He was excited that my application was accepted. I don't think it was any mystery to him or the coaching staff that I probably wouldn't wait too long to make that decision. He was excited."
"(Coach Bloomgren) texted me and recognized that I was probably super busy and checked in and asked if I was excited and all that stuff. I'm sure he'll get in (more extensive) contact with me soon. But he was letting me know how excited he was and how excited I was. It was a good deal."
Dalman wasted little time in pouncing on the opportunity with Stanford once he was admitted. It was not a spur of the moment decision, either.
"I think it could go all the way back to when I was much younger having my dad go there and kind of growing up near Stanford itself," Dalman said. "It was always one of those places that was really interesting. Everyone knows about the education and the great type of guys that go there. It checked all the boxes for me, and I figured there was no point in waiting."
Dalman's family was similarly excited to get news of his decision and acceptance. (In addition to his father's aforementioned ties, Dalman's older sister, Kate, works in the Stanford football offices.)
"It was all pretty much the same pattern, just real excited and saying that they were super proud of me and excited and just overall really really happy," Dalman said. "Because they understand how much it means to me and the effort and work I've put into it to get to that point. So just a lot of relief, excitement and pride."
While other members of his family may have, Dalman has yet to gain a full perspective on the reality that he will be following in his father's footsteps on The Farm.
"I don't think I've been able to take that step back and fully appreciate it just because of how hectic it's been," Dalman said. "But I'm sure this weekend I'll get a chance to sit back, think about it and consider the magnitude of it. But it's definitely a great thing and I'm really excited about it."
Dalman likely projects as a center on the collegiate level. He earned his offer with the Cardinal following a strong performance at Stanford's June camp.
"Basically going into camp they told me that with a spot opening up, if it were to open up, I would have to be competing with the other guys at camp to see who would earn that spot," Dalman said. "Coming out of camp they said that I earned that privilege. So the offer came with that, and now my application is in and accepted and everything."