Head prepares for senior year, still solid on Stanford

2017 Stanford safety commit Stuart Head has plenty on his plate as he prepares for his final year of high school. In addition to balancing recruiting and academic responsibilities, the Georgia native was voted captain of his Etowah High School team for the second straight year.

It's not a responsibility he's taking lightly.

"I'm really taking in the senior captain role, leading my team," Head said. "I'm feeling a lot of pressure, but it's in a good way. I feel like our success can be directly related to how I lead our team this offseason. I'll be playing offense and defense this year, too. I'll be playing a little bit of tight end and of course safety. I'm a vocal leader on and off the field for our guys. I'm trying to get my body and my game and my mind ready for Stanford in a year now."

Head's spring athletic endeavors may have assisted him in his pursuit of that goal. Head participated in track for the first time this year, and he made significant gains over the course of the season. Head noted that he brought his 100 time down half a second.

"We had a really good track season and that helped me gain some speed and elusiveness for this season," Head said. "I can already tell a difference through spring ball and summer ball. I've gotten a lot better and my game is already improving. So I'm excited for this season."

On the college recruiting side, Head's relationship with his future coaches continues to grow. He stays in contact with several Cardinal assistants.

"I regularly talk to the defensive staff - Coach Anderson and Coach Akina, that is," Head said. "I've developed a good relationship with Coach Anderson over the last few months. He recruits my area. It's been really nice to get to know him and how he recruits and what other guys that he wants on board that are like me. It's been a fun process, even after I've been committed."

"(Stanford's message is that) they really want me to be the best player possible by the time I get to Stanford. They're really pushing me academically in my own school and really trying to get me to be the best I can on the field for when I'm playing for them one day. I'm sure that's how it is for all the other guys that they're recruiting. They're really excited to have me in our recruiting class."

Stanford's admissions process has also been a regular topic of conversation. Head is currently working on his application and hopes to submit it soon.

"That's definitely on my mind this summer," said Head of the admissions process.

Though the admissions process is strenuous for all applicants, Head has not found it to be a negative experience thus far. To the contrary, he feels he's actually benefited from it on a personal level.

"It's really been cool finding myself through this process of doing (the application), knowing my goals for the future and really seeing what Stanford is really all about and how serious they take their admissions and what they want to know about me," Head said. "It's pretty cool."

Head's commitment to Stanford hasn't totally dissuaded other programs from recruiting him. He's received several scholarship offers in the months since he has delivered his verbal commitment, including one most recently from Alabama.

"Honestly that was pretty surprising for me," Head said. "They hadn't really recruited me much before I was committed. Obviously it's a great honor to be offered by them and it's a big school and a great powerhouse football program. But I'm firmly committed to Stanford still and I'm just grateful for another offer."

"I still receive some mail (from other schools). I still stay in touch with other coaches who sometimes would come by the school and recruit my still. Twitter is still very active for recruiting for me. But like I said, I'm still firmly committed to Stanford 100 percent, so (recruiting from other programs is) not too heavy any more."

Head, who visited Stanford for the Cardinal's dramatic victory over Notre Dame in 2015, plans to return to The Farm for a game this season.

"I'm obviously going to make my trips out to Stanford as much as I can," Head said. "I'm going to go to a game, maybe Thanksgiving week like I did last year. But no other visits to any other schools that I'e planned so far. I'm excited to get back out to Palo Alto, for sure."

Head noted that he has already grown close with several of his fellow 2017 Stanford commits and that he's also doing his part to help the Cardinal's recruiting class grow; Head is in touch with several uncommitted prospects, with an emphasis on those from the Southeast region.