4/12/2016 football Edit

Junior Day Report: Tyshon Fogg

Andy Drukarev • CardinalSportsReport

Publisher

Stanford hosted a small contingent of Maryland prospects last weekend for their Junior Day; the most highly touted and heavily recruited of the group was four-star Calvert Hall High School linebacker Tyshon Fogg.

The trip was Fogg's first to The Farm.

"It was a great time," Fogg said. "I had a great time. That was the nicest campus I've probably ever seen in my life. So, I mean, it was really good. I enjoyed the coaches and how they took us around. It was probably the best experience I've ever had going to a college because we actually got to know the players. We went with them around the campus."

"The highlights of my trip were most definitely going with the players around the campus, actually getting a feel for the campus, walking around with them, getting to now other people. Also, (a virtual reality demo where) you put these little goggles on and it's a 3-D type of feeling. You can train off of that and it translates to your muscle memory. That was cool, too."

Fogg, who was hosted by linebacker Bobby Okereke on the trip, spent plenty of time with the Cardinal's current players learning about life on The Farm.

"I was very comfortable with the players," Fogg said. "They were just telling me that you have to work hard when you come there. You have to be ready to work and compete with the best of the best, because they said (they finished) No. 3 overall last year so it's not like the type of football program that's not used to winning. Those guys are winning, those guys are training hard on the field and also working hard in the classroom because Stanford, that's not an easy place you can goof around. You definitely have to come in there ready for the work on the field and off the field."

Stanford is recruiting Fogg to play inside linebacker in their defense. Naturally, the four-star standout spent time with Cardinal inside linebackers coach Peter Hansen on the trip along with David Shaw and several assistants.

"I was definitely getting to know the coaches," Fogg said. "Coach Shaw, I talked to him a little bit, and a couple of other guys. So it was definitely a cool experience."

The trip also included a presentation about Stanford's admissions process which highlighted the requirements to gain entry into the university.

"It would be good for us to take two AP courses for our senior year, so I have to find out how to incorporate that into my schedule," Fogg said.

All told, Stanford made a strong first impression on the Maryland linebacker.

"My biggest takeaway was that it was a great place," Fogg said. "I know it's like five hours and 41 minutes away from home, but it was definitely a great place and I felt comfortable with the guys there and the coaches there and it was a great environment."

With his Bay Area trip concluded (Fogg also visited Cal while in California), Fogg intends to narrow his list of college options in the near future. Stanford will likely figure prominently among Fogg's top choices, but the matter of distance from home is a consideration that might not play in the Cardinal's favor.

"I'm actually cutting down my list to a top 15 or 10 schools somewhere soon," Fogg said. "They're definitely going to play a huge factor in my recruitment. It's just the thing of playing so far away from home is going to play a factor. Before, I was like, 'Oh, I don't care how far away a school is, I'll go if I feel comfortable.' But actually going out there I was like, 'Oh, wow, this is kind of far.' But they're definitely higher on my list, but it's still going to take some time and consideration with me and my family to actually come up with a decision."

Fogg intends to return to Stanford on an official visit - he wants his family to accompany him on a future visit to Palo Alto so they can also experience the environment and meet with the coaches.