If there is one difference between Stanford Football Now1 and Stanford Football Then2, it is in the overall physicality of the program. When Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw arrived on campus in 2007, they inherited a program with talented players but a lack of internal and external belief. Harbaugh and Shaw brought strength and conditioning coach Shannon Turley3 with them, and together they remade the program, instilling a physical toughness that became a brand – Intellectual Brutality. That slogan is most often tied to the offensive line, but just as that group is the focal point of the Stanford offense, the linebacking corps has been the heart of the defense over the past eight seasons.
During that time, as the Stanford defense has gained a reputation of strength and aggression, its linebackers have led the way, consistently ranking among the best units in the conference. The players in the chart to the left, Chase Thomas, Trent Murphy4, Shayne Skov, A.J. Tarpley, and Blake Martinez, are five of the best players to pass through the Stanford program during David Shaw's tenure. But in addition to the awards earned for their performance on the field, it should also be noted that they were also leaders in the locker room. All five players were chosen as team captains by their teammates.
So who are the next players to step into the legacy of the Stanford linebacker? Like many units on the 2017 roster, the linebackers possess a depth that would be the envy of most teams in the nation. The departed Zach Hoffpauir and Noor Davis played significant roles on last year's squad, but they are the only two of the top twelve linebackers who won't be returning. The top four tacklers in the group all return, with senior inside linebacker Joey Alfieri leading the way. Alfieri flipped back and forth between inside and outside last year, but reports this summer seem to indicate that he'll move inside permanently. Fifth-year senior Kevin Palma will also be involved in that competition, but the two players to watch are senior Bobby Okereke, who's been getting raves from observers of spring and summer practice, and junior Mustafa Branch. Okereke and Branch are the players I'm most looking forward to, and not just for this season; along with Alfieri, they seem poised to lock down the middle of the field in 2018 as well. Senior Jordan Perez and junior Sean Barton will also figure in the rotation, though their roles could be diminished from last season.
The outside linebacker in Stanford's 3-4 scheme demands athletic versatility. No one has exemplified this as much as Trent Murphy, who routinely made preposterously athletic (and intelligent) plays from the outside. In fact, it was his play along with Chase Thomas that inspired another Stanford slogan, Party in the Backfield. No player on the current Stanford roster has partied in the backfield as frequently as fifth-year senior Peter Kalambayi. He emerged as a pass rushing linebacker during his breakout freshman season, and his 14.5 career sacks currently lead the team. Expect him to reprise his role as the pass-rushing specialist, using his speed to wreak havoc in backfields up and down the conference. In fact, with the depth at linebacker and relative lack of depth on the defensive line, Kalamabyi could begin to look more like a defensive end than a linebacker, but that remains to be seen.
Fellow fifth-year senior Mike Tyler should also contribute, but the rising star in this unit is sophomore Curtis Robinson, a highly-respected prospect from Stanford's 2016 signing class. David Shaw is fond of saying that college football is a game played by juniors and seniors, a nod to his father and their shared belief that it takes a while for even the most talented high school players to adapt to the next level. Considering this, as well as the depth of talent up and down the roster, it's rare for true freshmen to see the field for the Cardinal. Robinson, however, played in 13 games, proving that his five-star status as a recruit was more than just hype. It would probably be a surprise for Robinson to win a starting spot, but there's no doubt he'll be an important part of the rotation with the opportunity to impact games. Don't be surprised if he's earning All-Conference honors in 2018.
If there's something to watch for with this group it will be how they perform in pass coverage. Last season especially, opposing offenses found success by employing running backs and tight ends in the passing game and isolating them on linebackers. It isn't unusual for linebackers to struggle in matchups like that, but it was a deficiency that was mildly concerning on some Saturdays and problematic on others. Teams with the personnel to press this advantage will surely seek to test the Stanford linebackers again this season. The Cardinal's success in those situations will dictate the personnel groupings we see on the field, and there will be a trickle down effect. If the linebackers continue to struggle, defensive coordinator Lance Anderson could lean towards playing even more nickel packages than he already does, the result being a defense that's a bit softer against the run. But if this group can be stronger against the pass, an above average defense will become great.
- 64-17 under Coach David Shaw from 2011 to present.
- 16-40 under Coaches Buddy Teevens and Walt Harris from 2002-2006.
- Turley's role in the program's success is considered so important that when Harbaugh attempted to hire him to a similar position when he took the head coaching job at the University of Michigan in 2015, the drama surrounding Turley's decision was greater than when any Stanford offensive or defensive coordinator has considered leaving.
- Following a long tradition of Stanford players' being bilked out of postseason awards, Murphy somehow wasn't voted Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. It was a travesty.
