New Rivals100: Stanford positioned for a historic class
RELATED: FULL RIVALS 100 RANKINGS LIST | Like Stanford recruiting? Don't miss our daily coverage, the most comprehensive available. Sign up today!
Stanford won't sign a large recruiting class in the 2017 cycle - they're currently expected to ink only 13-15 targets and have extended only 19 official offers - but it could be one of historically strong quality.
On the heels of a Rivals.com rankings update that was tremendously favorable for several of Stanford's top targets, the Cardinal could be in position to accomplish something no program in the history of Rivals.com has: They could sign the nation's top quarterback prospect, top offensive line prospect and top tight end prospect.
Additionally, Stanford could become the first school to ink three offensive recruits who rank among the nation's top 25 overall prospects since USC in 2010. (Ohio State is also in position to do this with their 2017 class.)
Today's update of the Rivals100 rankings boosted Stanford's chances at accomplishing both feats.
-Offensive line target Foster Sarell made a significant jump to the nation's No. 1 tackle and No. 3 overall prospect.
-Cardinal quarterback pledge Davis Mills moved to five-star status as the nation's No. 19 overall prospect. He remains the country's No. 2 quarterback, behind only Clemson pledge Hunter Johnson.
-Offensive tackle target Walker Little held strong as a five-star. He checks in at No. 25 overall in the new Rivals rankings.
-Cardinal tight end pledge Colby Parkinson received a bump in the rankings, moving up 24 spots. He remains behind Notre Dame commit Brock Wright for the time being, but Cardinal Sports Report evaluated Parkinson at a pair of camps over summer and would be hard pressed to believe there's a better player at his position anywhere.
(For the record, Parkinson is ranked as the nation's No. 1 tight end by the two other most prominent recruiting services. Mills is ranked as the No. 1 quarterback by the two other recruiting services. So each getting an additional bump in the Rivals rankings to join Sarell atop the respective position rankings is well within the realm of possibility.)
Stanford has a long way to go to make this potentially great class a reality, of course. Little and Sarell remain uncommitted, and each has multiple visits to various programs planned.
But the fact that all four have already gained admission to Stanford - a key development in the recruitment of each and every Stanford prospect - and has visited The Farm on multiple occasions signifies the Cardinal's standing as a legitimate contender.
Stanford's recruiting success has extended beyond the aforementioned quartet, of course. They recently took the upper hand in a heated recruiting battle with Notre Dame by landing a commitment from four-star wide receiver Osiris St. Brown. Four-star athlete Sione Lund projects as an ideal fit as a power back in the Cardinal's offense. He's been committed to Stanford for many months. Three-star tight end Tucker Fisk should be an effective weapon as an in-line tight end. Additionally, the Cardinal is continuing to work on adding skill position players to its class.
Stanford's defensive class won't be large, but it's off to a good start with a commitment from Georgia safety Stuart Head, who holds offers from Clemson, Notre Dame and Alabama. They're also pursuing the likes of defensive back Elijah Molden, defensive linemen Ryan Johnson and Dalyn Wade-Perry and linebackers K.J. Britt and Leonard Warner, among others.
All this to say: What Stanford's 2017 class lacks in quantity- and it may be the smallest of any Power 5 program in the country - it has a chance to make up for in quality. The updated Rivals rankings are another piece of compelling evidence to this point.