Visit report: Bailey McElwain
When Bailey McElwain took his first trip to Stanford over summer to participate in the Cardinal's camp, he left campus as not only the holder of a Stanford offer, but also as a Cardinal verbal commit.
McElwain's second trip to The Farm, last weekend for the Big Game, wasn't as filled with major recruiting developments, but it was successful nonetheless.
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"It was awesome," McElwain said. "I loved it."
"I liked meeting with all of the other commits, not just in football but from the other sports as well - volleyball, tennis, baseball, soccer. I think that was really interesting. And I loved hearing from the professors as well. It's nothing like any other visit you'll take."
McElwain was one of several 2016 Stanford commits who spent time on camps last weekend; Clark Yarbrough, Beau Bisharat and Kaden Smith also made the trip.
"It was awesome," McElwain said. "I think we had a pretty good relationship through our group chat before this but the ones I met with and hung out with, we had a great time and I felt we had a good bond."
McElwain also spent time with some of the uncommitted visitors including 2016 linebacker Jeffrey McCulloch and 2017 offensive lineman Wyatt Davis.
"I spent some time with Jeffrey Saturday after the game, kind of hung out a little bit and talked," McElwain said. "And then Wyatt Davis, we spent all day Sunday together."
"I'm recruiting them but I don't want to be too pushy. It's obvious that they love Stanford - I think we have a good chance at all those guys. I was just talking about the education, really, for my recruiting (pitch). You can't beat this Stanford education."
As for the game itself, a 35-22 Stanford victory, McElwain paid close attention to the fullbacks as well as the general game atmosphere.
"I really watched the fullback position," McElwain said. "But beside that, I watched the atmosphere. I really like the atmosphere around there."
That was among the biggest takeaways of McElwain's trip.
"I just really love the atmosphere," McElwain said. "I built better relationships and just confirmed my commitment."
The Hewitt-Trusville High School standout will make his third visit to The Farm in January for the Cardinal's recruiting weekend.
McElwain has yet to receive a decision from Stanford's admissions office, but he expects to soon.