Talented nose tackle Dalyn Wade-Perry commits to Stanford

Highly coveted defensive lineman Dalyn Wade-Perry of Pope John XXIII High School in Sparta, New Jersey publicly committed Sunday night to Stanford.

The three-star nose tackle waited until he got home from his official visit to Stanford to announce his decision.

It is welcome news for the Stanford program looking for an anchor to hold down future defensive lines. He will join a number of players in competition to first support Harrison Phillips next season and then win the job once the Nebraskan's time at Stanford is complete.

Four freshmen defensive linemen redshirted this year and Wesley Annan was hurt for most of the season, which leaves many more questions than answers about the future of the line. Mike Williams will be one of the young players in the mix and appears ready to welcome Wade-Perry.

The most immediately noticeable feature of Wade-Perry is his size, but the more than 300-pound wrecking ball can also move, which is why programs throughout the country were pursuing his commitment. He reported offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Florida State, Miami, Michigan and others.

He visited Florida State -- one his top three along with UCLA -- for the Seminoles' rivalry game against Florida. Wade-Perry's physical presence is the type you often see lining up for those teams.

At Stanford defensive coordinator Lance Anderson's unit tends to have five defensive backs on the field more often than three defensive linemen to combat spread offenses. But there have been games during the past two seasons, especially when Phillips is off the field, that the Cardinal have struggled to plug the middle of the field against better rushing attacks.

Whether Wade-Perry plays as a true freshman is unknown at this point, but his arrival this summer gives Anderson a significant extra piece to throw into the mix and see who emerges.