STANFORD, Calif. – There was a noticeable difference during Stanford's recently-completed first spring practice session compared to a year ago.
In 2018, the only available quarterback on the roster was junior walk-on Jack Richardson. He performed so well, Richardson was rewarded with a scholarship following the Cardinal and White Spring Game.
To spell him, Andrew Luck Director of Offense/Kevin M. Hogan Quarterbacks Coach Tavita Pritchard filled in, as did Kevin Hogan, now a member of the Denver Broncos and the winningest quarterback in Cardinal history.
This year, junior and two-year starter K.J. Costello is full-go, as are freshman Jack West, sophomore Davis Mills, Richardson and freshman Dylan Plautz. All threw during the first six practices.
"It's awesome for the whole team," said sophomore tight end Colby Parkinson. "Last year, we had limited reps in routes and team drills because we only had one quarterback. Now we can shuffle a couple guys and we have great competition. Obviously, K.J. is the guy, but there are four other guys nipping at his feet."
Added sophomore wide receiver Connor Wedington, "All of these quarterbacks are amazing on and off the field. We've had a lot of reps and it's been great building chemistry with each of them."
A team captain, Costello started all 13 games last year and was named All-Pac-12 second team, passing for 3,540 yards – the second-most in school history in a single season. His 29 touchdown throws were the third-most in a season at Stanford and he eclipsed 300 yards passing seven times.
His favorite targets, wide receivers JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Trenton Irwin, and tight end Kaden Smith, have moved on. But the Cardinal returns proven young talent in Parkinson and Wedington. Key contributions were also made last season by tight end Scooter Harrington and wide receivers Michael Williams, Osiris St. Brown, Donald Stewart and Simi Fehoko. Brycen Tremayne is another young receiver to watch.
"I'm excited to build chemistry with these young guys," Costello said. "My focus is on the small, technical details. They have the ability to bring a different level of explosiveness to our offense and I am excited for the potential. However, I do feel a great deal of urgency is necessary if we want to reach that potential."
Ready to step up: Arcega-Whiteside and Irwin combined for 123 receptions for 1,744 yards and 16 touchdowns. They led by example with hard work, focus and commitment, and it didn't go unnoticed.
"JJ and Trent were amazing," said Wedington. "They left a huge legacy on this team and we're going to try to fill those roles the best we can."
Parkinson agreed.
"We're definitely going to miss them," he said. "They set the tone. But we have a great bunch of guys coming back. It's going to be a fun group to watch."
At 6-7, Parkinson is a huge target and corralled seven scoring receptions last season. He's bulked up 10 pounds to 250 to improve his blocking and is determined to become a go-to target for Costello.
"I've been working my whole offseason on that," said Parkinson. "In the receiving game, trying to get more separation at the line and not just using my size as an excuse to not get a great release."
David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, believes Parkinson has the skills to become one of the top tight ends in college football. In nine starts in 2018, Parkinson grabbed 29 passes for 485 yards. His four touchdown catches against Oregon State tied the single-game program record and were the most by a Cardinal tight end.
"I think he can achieve great things," said Shaw said.
Shifting gears: In large part due to injuries, Shaw is emphasizing individual development. Seven more practices will be conducted, culminating with the annual Cardinal and White Spring Game on Saturday, April 13 at 1 p.m. in Cagan Stadium.
"We've seen improvement in our understanding," Shaw said. "We've kept our schemes down so we can really get better and so many guys are stepping up and playing at a high level."
The change suits sophomore cornerback Paulson Adebo.
"I think anytime we have a chance to hone in on the details, we're able to do a lot more technical work, which is something that I've needed personally," he said. "Press technique, coming out of breaks, reading the quarterback, all of that stuff."
In his first year as a starter, Adebo emerged as one of the premier cornerbacks in the country. He led the nation with 24 passes defended, had 20 pass breakups, intercepted a team-high four passes and ranked third in tackles with 64. Adebo was named FWAA Freshman All-American first team and All-Pac-12 first team.
Even with the accolades, he is far from satisfied.
"I think it's just more of the same," Adebo said, when asked about setting new goals for 2019. "I think guys can fall into the trap of trying to do too much or play outside themselves. It's just playing as hard as I can, and when I see I've made a mistake, try to correct it. I left a lot on the field as far as tackling and missed assignments that I can tune up and get better at."
Path to The Farm: Adebo grew up in Texas and narrowed his college choices to Stanford and Notre Dame, deciding to come west because of the great combination of football and academics, California weather and to experience something new.
"I watched them play in prime time against Oregon but didn't really get intrigued until my junior year of high school," Adebo said. "I kind of wanted to get away from home and was at that point where if I don't venture out now, maybe I never will."
He has no regrets.
"There's a certain type of person that wants to come to this school, so in that regard, we all share similarities," said Adebo. "We're not exactly the same, but it is easier to get us on the same page. Especially in our respective groups. I feel like we are super-close. We can talk to each other about anything. The other day, me and four other DB's were just chopping it up … not even about ball, just about life and our ambitions until 1 a.m. It's nice having a group of people you can talk to and vent to no matter what's going on with football."
Combine report: Punter Jake Bailey was a practice visitor last week and attended the recent NFL Scouting Combine with Arcega-Whiteside, Smith, Bobby Okereke, Bryce Love, Alijah Holder and Nate Herbig.
"Super-cool experience," Bailey said. "Kind of thought it would be pretty similar to the Senior Bowl and it was. First night was interview night and you walk into this conference room and every special teams coach and assistant is there and you do interviews with all of them. It went well, so I was happy with it. I punted well and ran well, too."
Bailey credited Stanford special teams coordinator Pete Alamar for getting him ready.
"He did a really good job of putting me in scenarios where I felt prepared for everything that came at me," said Bailey. "I punted in front of every special teams coach – all 32 of them – and sometimes people fold in that environment and I was able to rise above it. I credit Stanford football for putting me in situations like that to allow me to excel."
Bailey spent most of his time in Indianapolis with the other specialists and didn't see much of his former teammates. For that matter, he hardly saw his roommate, running back Elijah Holyfield of Georgia, son of ex-world heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield.
"It was crazy," Bailey said. "We were in the hotel for four days and I saw him a total of maybe 30 minutes."
Extra points: The second spring session starts on April 2 ... There will be an open practice on Saturday, April 6 from 10:10 a.m. to noon, with a player autograph session following … Junior Curtis Robinson has moved from outside to inside linebacker … With the graduation of Okereke, the ILB position figures to be highly-competitive. Freshmen Ricky Miezan and Jacob Magnum-Farrar impressed in the first session … Bailey also did the holding on extra points and field goals. His spot has been manned by junior wide receiver Harry Schwartz ... Stanford's NFL Pro Timing Day is April 4 ... Shaw was a recent guest speaker at Stanford graduate Ivan Maisel's winter course on campus called, "A History of College Football: 150 Years." Maisel is a senior writer at ESPN.
