Lund on visit, Cardinal commitment

2017 Rivals100 athlete Sione Lund's second trip to Stanford was a memorable one.

Not only was Lund in attendance for one of the better and more dramatic college football games of the 2015 season, but he also made his college decision on the trip, becoming the first player in his recruiting class to commit to the Cardinal.

Lund informed the Stanford coaches of his decision during the first day of his visit, on Friday.

"I went Friday to see how things are before game day." Lund said. "I sat through all the meetings and saw what they talked about. That's basically what I did. I watched practice outside. That's what led up to the meeting with Coach Shaw and my commitment. It was super cool to see how everything was and how they run practices before game days. The things they do, I've never seen anywhere else. So I thought it was pretty neat."

(Lund noted that the activity level at Stanford's Friday practice was, in his experience, unusual. The Cardinal has shifted its practice routine this season; they now hold their weekly walkthrough on Thursday and a more fast-paced practice on Friday.

"Just how active they are and how much they're moving before games (was unique)," Lund said. "At other practices I've seen, they're just there walking around and just going through the motions but there at Stanford you're really active and they're really getting you ready for game day so that's what I loved about it.")

Word of Lund's commitment to the Cardinal was greeted with excitement from Stanford's coaches.

"Coach Shaw, me and him have a good relationship," Lund said. "He was super excited. He was just excited for me to commit there - he's known how long I've loved Stanford. And I know the running backs coach, Coach Taylor, was super excited. I had a really nice meeting with him. We sat down and talked about how they would use me. He was super excited that I committed."

Also among those thrilled to receive news of Lund's choice was his high school teammate and close friend - and 2016 Stanford commit - Simi Fehoko.

"He thought I was joking (when I told him about my intention to commit)," Lund said. "I told him a week prior to when I did it. He was like, 'No, man, you're joking with me.' I said, 'No, man, I've been really thinking about it and praying and I think I'm going to do it. He was super excited because Simi and I, ever since the beginning of our high school careers we wanted to go to Stanford. It's pretty cool to watch it all play out and see how far we've come."

Lund chose Stanford over offers from numerous other programs, including Michigan, Washington, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma State - as well as the big in-state schools, Utah and BYU.

Although fans of those programs undoubtedly would have liked Lund to stay home, he was greeted warmly by friends and local community members when new of his Cardinal commitment broke.

"Everyone's been super happy for me, overall," Lund said. "Most people are saying if they had the opportunity to go to Stanford they would do it. Hearing that makes me really grateful to have this opportunity to go to Stanford and do well there. Everyone has been pretty positive about it and happy for me."

That Lund ended up being the first 2017 prospect to commit to Stanford was not by design. Rather, the Cardinal had long been his dream school, and he felt he was ready to deliver his verbal pledge.

"It kind of just happened that way," Lund said of being the first member of the Cardinal's 2017 class. "Most of these guys, they're just waiting to see what other things they'll get, but I've had Stanford for a while now and it's just my dream school so I felt like it was the right time to do it."

Lund's first full day as an official Stanford commit was also quite memorable. He spent all of Saturday on campus and had a prime view of the Cardinal's dramatic victory over Notre Dame.

"We came early (Saturday) and we went to the locker room with the players before their game," Lund said. "We got to see what they do and the traditions they have before game days. We had a little dinner. I met with some professors... After that we went down on the field and got to see what everyone else was doing and watch the warm ups. I think that was probably the best part."

"(The game) was sweet. Props to Kevin Hogan for throwing four touchdowns and keeping us in it. It had me on the edge of my seat. I was pretty nervous. Stanford was pretty confident in their kicker so that was pretty neat and when he went out there and sunk it I was pretty happy about that."

Lund was one of several talented recruits who made the trip to The Farm over the weekend. He spent time with 2017 Cardinal safety target Stuart Head and 2016 Stanford quarterback commit K.J. Costello in addition to Fehoko and others.

"(Stuart Head) said he was super high on Stanford," Lund said. "I was just trying to put in a good word for the Card to him and he said he's thinking about it and he's really high on Stanford. I spent a lot of time with him. And also getting to know K.J. - that was sweet, just meeting him and what a nice guy he was and how humble he is."

Lund also spent time with several of the Cardinal's current players, including Christian McCaffrey, Remound Wright and Barry Sanders.

"Those guys made me want to be there and made me want to play for Stanford," Lund said. "They said nothing but great things and they just told me how it would all play out and how much they've gained from Stanford, not only in football but academically and life skills. It just made super excited."

Lund, a four-star prospect, is LDS and is currently planning to serve a church mission. But he's not sure when, exactly, that trip will take place.

"As of right now I'm thinking about just going straight out of high school but it would be pretty sweet to see how things are and play a year and see how that goes and then go," Lund said. "But I guess we'll see. I'm still undecided on that."